Things have changed since I was a kid.
Have you ever had one of those moments when, suddenly, you realise just how much the world has changed without you having paid any attention to it?
Perhaps you went into McDonald's and hadn't recalled the burgers being so expensive or quite so small. Maybe you'd tried to find a parking space on your street and it took longer than it had ever done - where had all the cars come from? Whatever the incident was, it made you realise things are different now.
I remember when white vans that were covered in grime used to have 'Also available in white' or 'Clean me' written on them. What did I see written on one the other day?
The happy couple?
IDgaf on 05.18.04 @ 01:30 PM GMT [link]
It's a beautiful day in central London.
It's a beautiful day in London. The sky is clear, the air is warm and, between Bond Street and Wigmore Street, St.Christopher's Place feels like it's in a city far prettier, glamorous and civilised than than it actually is.
St.Christopher's is a square connected by two large alleyways, at the sides of which are fashion boutiques, expensive hairdressing salons, trendy bakeries and cool restaurants. Tables and chairs are out on the pavement and beautiful people in expensive and transient clothes are eating, drinking and being cosmopolitan.
Costa Coffee lured me with the promise of a raspberry Frescato ice and milk drink (£2.85) and I bumped into a cute, wealthy, woman I used to do jiu-jitsu with. If there had been clouds in the sky my head would have been in them, so she had to call my name a couple of times to get my attention. I exchanged chit-chat with her and her party as she shimmered in the sunshine as sun-kissed women passed by laughing and smiling.
It was pleasing to spend time amongst the hum of friendly people underneath a giving sun. Only the most impoverished in spirit would have begrudged being there - which is why I felt much safer when I'd got to the confines of HMV's basement and bought a copy of Ninja Gaiden to play in my sitting room with the blind drawn.
IDgaf on 05.14.04 @ 01:48 PM GMT [link]
Ebay scam e-mail: Your eBay Account Must Be Confirmed
If you get an e-mail called 'Your eBay Account Must Be Confirmed', be warned. It's a scam.
The body text will be something like this, but in HTML (pretty) format:
_
Update Your Credit / Debit Card On Your eBay File
Dear eBay member ,
During our regular and verification of the accounts we couldn't verify your current information, either your information Has changed or it is incomplete . if the account is not updated to current information within 5 days then , your access to Buy or Sell on eBay will be restricted
Go to the link below to Update your account information :
REMEMBER SCAM!
http://signin.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?SignIn&ssPageName=h:h:sin:US - REMEMBER SCAM!
please dont reply to this email as you will not receive a response
Thank You for using eBay!
http://www.eBay.com
As outlined in our user agreement , eBay will periodically send you information about site changes and enhancements, vist our Privacy Policy and User Agreement if you have any questions .
Copyright © 1995-2004 eBay Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Designated trademarks and brands are the property of their respective owners.
_
How you can tell it's a scam.
1. Spelling. eBay wouldn't send out an e-mail with spelling mistakes in. I've worked in internet companies since 1998 and written e-mails intended for thousands of customers. None had spelling mistakes.
2. They're asking you to confirm your details but don't want you writing to them if you have questions? Any normal company would include a customer services e-mail for people to contact.
3. The site it goes to isn't necessarily at eBay. If you look at the URL - the address in the browser bar - you'll see it's just an IP (internet protocol) number. An IP address can point to any site - I don't know where it's going so I wouldn't trust it.
4. The site isn't secure. Look at the bottom left (or right) of your browser - the grey bit at the bottom. Can you see a padlock icon? If you are on a secure server, there'll be a padlock icon. Never ever enter credit or debit card details into a webpage unless it has a padlock icon in the browser.
5. THey ask for your card's ATM PIN number. I wouldn't give my PIN number to my mother. Why the fuck would I hand it out over the internet? The company I work for turns over several millions pounds a year through its online shop - we don't need a PIN number to process orders or to identify customers.
IDgaf on 05.10.04 @ 08:16 PM GMT [link]
Film review: Van Helsing [cinema]
Going to see Van Helsing is like being told a really sexy woman wants to shag you, but when you meet her she's not that fit but she is mentally handicapped.
Cinema warning: Do not see this film at the Vue cinema in Islington. The volume in the cinema was set to (a literally painful) 11 and at £8.30 a ticket it's a rip off.
IDgaf on 05.10.04 @ 01:22 PM GMT [link]
Film review: Twilight Samurai [Cinema]
Not a must-see movie, but a should-see movie in which a low-ranking widowed samurai tries to balance caring for his senile mother and two daughters with loyalty to his clan.
This film’s like a meal that, though simple, has ingredients blended so well and of such quality that nothing is superfluous and nothing is left wanting. Even the World’s Most Uncomfortable Seat™ couldn’t stop me enjoying it.
IDgaf on 05.07.04 @ 12:32 PM GMT [link]
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World [DVD]
I badgered my friend into renting this high-seas adventure on the strength of its Oscar nominations and what I’d read about it online. I thought it’d be crap. It’s not. It’s reasonably enjoyable, has good action sequences and stars Russel Crowe’s Mumble: "Mmm? Mmmfm Hmmfmfm I AM THE CAPTAIN, MMmhHMMHMM!" Most dissapointing things: not enough insight into life aboard ship and no brass monkeys.
IDgaf on 05.04.04 @ 12:25 PM GMT [link]
Film review: The House of 1,000 Corpses [DVD]
Rob Zombie's film is more odd than scary. It's not a particularly good film and it's not so bad as to be laughably enjoyable. The best thing about it is Zombie's wife, Sheri Kitty moon. Nice arse.
IDgaf on 05.04.04 @ 12:08 PM GMT [link]
Film review: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Eternal Sunshine is a chase movie about love, memory loss and lucid dreaming. It's a good film and looks great, but isn't as emotionally engaging as it should have been. Watching it, two things struck me: 1) I wish I'd written, or been involved with, something like this. 2) The couples in the cinema were probably thinking of past loves.
IDgaf on 05.02.04 @ 02:07 PM GMT [link]
