Massaria's Miscellanea

The Power of the Bard

2009-07-12T05:45:45Z

This has been out 5 days and nearly 2.5 million people have seen it but, having experienced the wonder of trying to make an insurance claim from airlines more than once and giving up in disgust myself, I think more people should see this:
www.youtube.com/watch

The curse of incompetence

2009-06-16T04:21:55Z

I read this 10 years ago when it first was published and someone I know has just re-discovered it and posted it to me. It is as true then as it was now and it explains much of what happens in the world.

On a related point: just because only one person applies for a job doesn't mean you should hire them. This small piece of wisdom doesn't seem to be as widely known as I would like.

Tired

2009-06-11T11:33:53Z

Clearly the only solution is to be really good at beating people with a stick.

Stuff!

2009-04-04T22:43:16Z

We have too much stuff in the house. There is just so much stuff you can't move. I'm not sure what half of it is anymore. Sigh, and people keep giving me more stuff! Argh! Gonna have to have a purge. In particular I think I need to cut down of SCA stuff, we have tons and tons and tons of it.

On another topic, April seems to be Birthday month. So happy birthday to everyone who's celebrating surviving another orbit around the Earth, and in particular felinophile who lj had kindly emailed me to say achieves this goal tomorrow :-)

Real Knights...

2009-03-09T08:04:53Z

Today I had a meeting with a real knight, and had to write to another. The first is a Distinguished Companion of the Order of Merit of New Zealand and as of today titular honours have been reinstated in NZ, meaning that he is now entitled to be called "Sir" (or will be if he accepts the title). The second was a New Zealand Knight made before the titles were axed, hopefully I will be off to meet him next week. Both of them are scientists. I like it when scientists get to be Knights.

When I lived in the Netherlands I was at the knighting of one of the retiring professors, which was nice because it was a suprise, but since Queen Beatrix was busy it was conducted by the Mayor of Leiden and it just wasn't the same! Although it was still cool. Another scientist I knew was knighted in the Netherlands after I left, he's now in Australia where I assume he doesn't get to use the title "Ridder". The Europeans have such good titles and orders like "Ridder in de Orde van de Nederlandse Leeuw" which is what these two fellows got. Anyway, real knights with real heraldry are exciting.

Lochac Award Name Registration Project

2009-01-26T22:34:51Z

The great Lochac Award Name Registration Project continues. I have now gotten permission to conflict from the Crown of Meridies and Calontir (a new copy) for the Order of the Cross of Lochac and now from and the Prince and Princess of Oertha for the Lochac Order of Grace. Some of these things are still in the post from the US but hopefully should arrive soon so I can forward to Rocket. So, there's more stuff for the apparently large Feb LoI.

Now why am I posting it here? To say that as part of the communications from Stellanordica Herald and the P&P of Oertha was to pass on greetings from all of Oertha to kareina who I know will be reading this :-) Who said the heralds only ever gave people bad news?

Wellington

2009-01-25T11:23:05Z

I really like Wellington (barring the fun that is driving). It is a really nice place to live; friendly people, good food, good weather, nice plants, summer festivals. Hopefully this is not just the first part of culture shock!

Happy Festival of your choice

2008-12-19T14:22:03Z

So, I am now on holidays. I'll be back online on the 6th of Jan after which point I will be residing in NZ. So have happy holidays everyone!

Australian Meme

2008-12-10T14:53:15Z

Stolen from etfb : an Australian meme. You know the rules, bold items are the ones I've done.

1. Heard a kookaburra in person
2. Slept under the stars
3. Seen a koala.
4. Visited Melbourne
5. Watched a summer thunderstorm
6. Worn a pair of thongs
7. Been to Uluru
8. Visited Cape York
9. Held a snake
10. Sang along with Khe San
11. Drank VB
12. Visited Sydney
13. Have seen a shark
14. Have used Aussie slang naturally in a conversation
15. Had an actual conversation with an indigenous Australian (aboriginal).
16. Eaten hot chips from the bag at the beach
17. Walked/climbed over the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
18. Used an outside dunny, and checked under the seat before sitting down.... Ah yes, well how's about been caught in a nest of redbacks in an outside dunny? In the desert. Can I have extra points for that?
19. Seen Chloe in Young & Jackson's.... no idea what this means.
20. Slept on an overnight train or bus
21. Been to Sydney's Mardi Gras
22. Have gone bush-bashing
23. Taken a sickie
24. Been to see a game of Aussie Rules football (regrettebly and only once)
25. Have seen wild camels
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Had a Tim Tam Slam
28. Ridden in a tram in Melbourne
29. Been at an ANZAC day Dawn Service.
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Held a wombat
32. Been on a roadtrip of 800km or more
33. Seen the Great Australian Bight in person
34. Had a really bad sunburn
35. Visited an aboriginal community
36. Seen a redback spider
37. Have watched Paul Hogan
38. Seen Blue Poles in person (again no idea about this)
39. Wandered barefoot in the bush/outback
40. Eaten Vegemite
41. Thrown a boomerang
42. Seen the Kimberlies
43. Given a hitch-hiker a lift
44. Been to Perth (currently living in Perth)
45. Have tried Lemon, Lime and Bitters
46. Tried playing a didgeridoo
47. Seen dinosaur footprints
48. Eaten Tim Tams
49. Been to Darwin (Born in Darwin and lived there from 4 -11)
50. Touched a kangaroo
51. Visted the Great Barrier Reef
52. Listened to Kevin Bloody Wilson
53. Killed a Cane Toad (Ah yes, many. When not growing up in Darwin I was growing up in Queensland and this was 'sport')
54. Gone to a drive-in theatre
55. Have read and own books by Australian authors (regrettably)
56. Visited Adelaide (lived there from 11 - 25)
57. Know the true story behind 'Eternity'
58. Been camping
59. Visited Brisbane
60. Been in an outback pub
61. Know what the term "Waltzing Matilda" actually means
62. Gone whale watching.
63. Listened to Slim Dusty
64. Own five or more Australian movies or TV series (er is this about how Australian you are or if you have taste?)
65. Sang along to Down Under
66. Have stopped specifically to look at an historic marker by the side of the road.
67. Eaten a 4'n'20 pie (God no. Don't eat mince. Have not eaten mince since my father told me the story of Sweeny Todd when I was six.)
68. Surfed at Bondi (no, that would be a health risk. I have been to Bondi though)
69. Watched the cricket on Boxing Day (Ah yes in the painful years I lived at home with my parents and after I was married...)
70. Visited Hobart (lived in Hobart for last 4.5 years, finally escaped)
71. Eaten kangaroo
72. Seen a quokka
73. Visited Canberra
74. Visited rainforests
75. Used a Victa lawnmower
76. Travelled on a tram in Adelaide
78. Used a Hills hoist
79. Visited the Olgas
80. Used native Australian plants in cooking
81. Visited the snow
82. Chosen a side in Holden VS Ford (No, I always thought this was stupid)
83. Visited the desert
84. Been water skiing
85. Read The Phantom
86. Visited Parliament House
87. Gone spotlighting or pig-shooting
88. Crossed the Nullarbor (only in a plane and I suspect that doesn't count)
89. Avoided swimming in areas because of crocodiles (even seen crocodiles while swimming, that's what growing up in Darwin does for you)
90. Listened to AC/DC.
91. Called someone a dag
92. Voted in a Federal Election
93. Have been swimming and stayed between the flags
94. Had a possum in your roof
95. Visited the outback
96. Travelled over corrugated roads.
97. Hit a kangaroo while driving (Hmmm.... well I was not driving the car but I was in it "driving" so I'm going to count this.)
98. Been well outside any mobile phone coverage
99. Seen an emu.
100. Have woken to the smell of bushfires

So, 90/100. Not too bad..

Song Meme

2008-09-29T04:24:02Z

Well I clearly I like obscure goth & metal music (and I thought this was not really obscue, just old) with some other miscellaneous stuff:

1. I’m lying on my back now, the stars look all too near…
Ribbons by Sisters of Mercy

2. I had to escape the city was sticky and cruel…
I Drove All Night by Cyndi Lauper

3. Cold still waters running deep, pale before the eyes...
Beyond the Pale by The Mission UK

5. I gave you flowers and you gave me faith…
Blood Brothers by The Mission UK

6. Zoned out afternoon, let’s catch "who’s on top of whom"…
Creep Show by Skid Row

8. I hurt myself today, to see if I still feel
Hurt by Nine Inch Nails

9. Whenever I’m alone with you, you make me feel like I am home again
Love Song by the Cure

10. I’m on the run, I kill to eat…
The Prisoner by Iron Maiden (although I should say I had a typo in there and it should be "I'll kill to eat" but I was running late for my flight at that stage....)

Hmmm... maybe I should get a new CD? My research students always tell me I have terrible taste in music :0)

Song Meme

2008-09-26T23:34:59Z

I don’t usually do memes but I am stuck in Melbourne International Airport in the frequent flyer lounge waiting for a flight to Wellington which seems to be continually delayed. So…here is one I stole off

etfb :

Put your music player on random.
- Post the first line from the first 32 20 (who has time? Indeed Mr Bat so I have reduced that further to 10) songs that play, no matter how embarrassing the song.
- Let everyone guess what song and artist the lines come from.
- Bold the songs when someone guesses correctly.
- Looking them up on Google or any other search engine is CHEATING!

1. I’m lying on my back now, the stars look all too near…

2. I had to escape the city was sticky and cruel…

3. Cold still waters running deep, pale before the eyes...

4. I am the son and the heir… (Yep this is Morrisey, well the Smiths with How Soon is Now, which was spotted by felinophile.)

5. I gave you flowers and you gave me faith…

6. Zoned out afternoon, let’s catch "who’s on top of whom"…

7. With the fire from the fireworks up above me… (This is indeed Temple of Love by Sisters of Mercy, spotted by etfb.)

8. I hurt myself today, to see if I still feel

9. Whenever I’m alone with you, you make me feel like I am home again

10. I’m on the run, I kill to eat…

My very great suspicion is that since I have very few friends here and given my taste in music,

felinophile will be the only person to know these… Oh and 8 is by the original artist not the cover (which is also good).

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The Bog of Eternal Stench

2008-08-14T12:33:04Z

Well having returned from my week visiting Wakeline in Darton while that the bottom floor of the house was being cleaned (yet again) and having the carpets and walls removed and all the titles replaced I have discovered that it still reeks. Fortunately now only the lounge, bedroom and bathroom reek. The garage now seems to be ok. I contacted the landlord and she sent the cleaners back today.

One of the problems we had with the cleaners initially was they were so ill from the sewage that they were throwing up while cleaning and had to work in shifts - fair enough, it was gross. However, this stopped them doing as good a job as they should have and even though today was their 4th visit they were still finding patches of raw sewage under furniture which, really, they should have moved and cleaned the first or second time they were here. Anyway, pretty much everything has been stripped out of the whole floor now and they put half a barrel of sewage disinfectant in there so lets hope that does it.

Assuming that I am no longer living above the Bog of Eternal Stench then next week we will get the remaining walls painted, new skirting boards, carpets & curtains installed and it will hopefully be usable again. Not that it really matters for me because most of our remaining stuff will be put in a shipping contain in the next couple of months but I guess it is important for the landlord.

Now all I have to do is get my insurance company to tell me what is going on with my claim for all my trashed items....

Flood damage

2008-07-29T13:13:03Z

So the clean up continues. It seems that the entire bottom floor of the house will be un-usable for a while. Even though they claim to have cleaned it and disinfected it, it still smells terrible. Certainly not fit for human habitation. I'm going to have to have to throw lots of stuff out and even then I will still have a storage crisis. Hopefully, Wakeline will come back for a week in August and help me sort this out.

I win all contests of having to put up with gross stuff - for all time!

2008-07-28T08:21:48Z

My house flooded. Had it just been water that would have been one thing, but no sadly what I had was 2 - 3 inches of stuff the consistency of oatmeal being a pale pink colour and full of... er... brown lumps. What am I talking about? Raw sewerage. Yes, I discovered yesterday that 2 -3 inches of raw sewerage was covering the entire bottom floor of my house. All through my downstairs bathroom, my downstairs bedroom, lounge room and about 80% of the garage. It was gross. The most disgusting thing I have ever encountered in my life. Not only that, it was also welling up in my garden and running down my back stairs. Fortunately, we don't use the doorstairs of the house for much but storage and because Wakeline already moved, lots of the stuff that would normally be there was gone. It could have been much worse!

Anyway, I have spent the last 24 hours literally wading through shit. After a fun visit from the plumber and the cleaners we now have the drain unblocked and most of the poo vacuumed up. A number of maintenance issues have to occur for you to get a whole floor full of poo. First you need to have a drain blocked - yep had that in the form of tree roots in my front garden from the massive Ash there. Then you should have an overflow pipe outside so in the event of a blockage your toilet doesn't put poo in your house, to get what I had this too must be blocked. As it turned out ours was not blocked so much as buried! Yes, that's right the overflow pipe was buried underground. Hence the sewerage welling up in the front garden. Thirdly, to fill the entire floor of a house with poo before you notice you need to have a lot of poo moving quickly and then getting backed up. Here is a tip for all would be house buyers - if you buy the bottom house on a hill which connects all other houses to the main sewer line and your pipes block you will get the sewerage of ALL the people further up the hill filling your house. Viola! Welcome to my nightmare.

Apparently it has been all disinfected but I remain unconvinced, partly because they did not move any furniture when vacuuming the poo and so there is still stuff there and partly because the smell tells me that there is still a problem. So this fun prospect will continue tomorrow.

Destroyed in this fun exercise were:
1 3-piece cane lounge suite
1 3-door wardrobe
2 2-door wardrobes
1 2-door cupboard
2 cane chairs from our dinning setting up stairs
1 SCA sunshade mock pavillion thing
2 folding chairs for use at SCA events
1 computer & monitor
2 camping mats
1 tent
Lots and lots of wood for shield making and other SCA things
2 sets of curtains made by my mother as a gift.
Random other stuff
all of the carpet and tiles (the carpet was completely sodden and when you walked on it gross poo liquid seeped up)
the internal walls are also not looking the best.

Not quite destroyed but needing repair:

My grandmothers antique maple dinning table and 6-chairs (all sitting in the poo and soaking it up)

26 m of 1.8m wide, 100% cotton velvet in luscious dark green (which was sitting on the ground in the poo but fortunately was wrapped tightly in tissue paper, then plastics, then cardboard then sandwiched between two boards and then warped in more cardboard - the outer cardboard and the wood was wet but the inner cardboard, the tissue paper and plastic were dry. So while there is technically no damage it does smell a tad. It's being dry cleaned).

Not destroyed:
There were a ton of metal things that were fine aside from having to be disinfected and cleaned in hospital grade cleaners. Fun.
Plus a bike and my car which had to have the tires disinfected.

Fortunately, everything in the cupboards was off the ground and was mostly ok although the cupboards themselves were trashed.

Such fun. Guess this means I have less stuff to move. Maybe that is a plus? At least we have insurance!! Tomorrow the fun will continue. I will have to get a skip and throw lots of stuff out. I don't care if they claim it has been cleaned, it is sooo gross down there I will never be able to keep anything in there again. So now I have to try to move it all or throw it out. Sigh.

5000 emails

2008-07-22T15:18:15Z

I have several email accounts. Most of them are full of junk you can easily delete. I have two email addresses for work and each of these has about 2,500 emails in the inbox. Sadly, I have to go through and delete or archive these messages before I move. This is a huge pain in the arse, and it will take forever. Sigh. Oh well maybe I can be like kareina (who is super organized) and do a bit each day. So long as I delete more emails in one day than arrive I will be making some progress! Then for my next trick, when I get a new job maybe I can stay on top of my emails. Of course keeping everything has it's advantages when you have to prove something later. This has served me well recently, so maybe having a full inbox is not such a bad thing afterall!

Fresh fruit was not eaten by the nobility!

2008-07-22T14:11:27Z

According to a new book "Out of the East: Spices and the Medieval Imagination" by Professor Paul Freedman from Yale University, doctors in the medieval period thought that fresh fruit was too watery and would upset your humours and advised people not to eat it. There is a radio interview with him on medieval food on the ABC. The interview talks about stuff which will be mostly known to the average SCA person, however there are some interesting bits on eating lamprey (although it's kind of gross) and how it must be killed in red wine, musicians in pies and of course the discussion on fruit. Apparently fresh fruit was too cold and too wet and doctors believed it would rot in the stomach! To balance the humours of the wet fruit it was required to have something dry and salty with it, hence the combination of melon and prosciutto, or melon and caviar which came about in the renaissance. Apparently, the peasants did not worry about this too much.

Moving to Darton

2008-07-17T14:27:27Z

So I can now tell people that I will be moving to another part of Lochac in January. Specifically, I will be moving to Darton (Wellington, New Zealand) where mundanely I have a nice new job which is a promotion on the academic scale. Yay! I will also be taking a more active role in the SCA again which should be fun. So now I just have to get organized and throw things out or give things away and then get the rest of our stuff in a shipping container (again). At least I have a fair bit of time this time to get it all done.

Testing

2008-06-18T04:37:32Z

Ok so this is the obligatory first entry on this page. Not sure what I am going to do with this page yet. Probably mainly only use it for SCA purposes. We will see.