The Tin Man

Posted By Mark on Aug 28, 2013

Fashion Faves – Ranya Mordanova

Posted By Mark on Aug 27, 2013

A model and a photographer, neither of whom I’ve heard of before – which isn’t difficult as I’m not quite the holder of boundless knowledge I sometimes make myself out to be – and a very nice photoshoot indeed courtesy of ru_glamour. The photographer is Yossi Michaeli and the model is Ranya Mordanova. Let’s take a look at some of the photos. I know exactly what you’re thinking when you look at this photo because I thought the same thing: where the hell is Ranya in this picture? The answer is that she’s just left of centre and if you look very carefully you might just spot her blonde hair towards the top. Dificult to see but well worth it when you spot it. This is clever work by Yossi and the stylists on the photoshoot to bring together floral camouflage wear and the interactive elements of magic eye pictures. It’s the sort of fashion photo that really appeals to a certain demographic: veterans of flower-based warfare who recuperated with the aid of puzzle books in early part of the twenty-first century. But I like it too. No trouble spotting the beautiful Ranya in this particular photo, though, thanks to my Merdar. It’s like Gaydar but for mermaids. Not that I’m a mermaid or merman or anything like that. I mean, I’ve got a very dry foot – my right one since you asked – but I wouldn’t go as far as to say it’s scaly like a fish. I’m not slowly transforming into a merman and I’m not doomed to live my life as one-twentieth fish. I don’t think. Damn. Now I’m going to have to check the family tree and see if there’s any sealife in the blood. What I’m trying to say here is that I like Ranya’s dress. It’s pretty. The last photo I’ve picked to highlight is just one that shows how much fun Ranya and Yossi had on this particular fashion shoot: not very much at all it turns out. It’s difficult to know for certain what happened between model and photographer during the day but we can see that it culminated in Mordanova drinking herself into a stupor and Michaeli placing his unconscious model’s hand in a nearby pool in an attempt to make her pee herself. A foolish venture for two reasons: firstly, models eject all bodily waste from their bodies in small purses which are then auctioned for charity and, secondly, it’s an urban myth that this prank actually works at all. If you really want someone to wake up only to immediately set about urinating all over the place...

French 80s Pop Triple

Posted By Mark on Aug 24, 2013

If someone asked you what you thought was the most perfect period in music history what would you say to them? The era of Mozart? The birth of the blues? It’s probably different for everyone and there’s no real right answer. Of course, nobody in their right mind would pick 1980s French pop and then try to justify it by pointing out that the music was quite likely deep and meaningful if you knew what was being sung and that the dancing was minimalist and so very French as to raise it above all other forms of artistic expression. And it just so happens that I’m nobody in their right mind. I dare you to enjoy these. Jeanne Mas – Toute Première Fois Jackie Quartz – Juste Une Mise Au Point Karen Cheryl – Oh Cheri Cheri Hey! She stole all my best dance...

The Language Of Logitech

Posted By Mark on Aug 21, 2013

At work they were getting rid of some “surplus to requirements” webcams. I’m not a webcam person but free technology is free technology so I grabbed the best-looking of the hardware available and took it home. I’ve just downloaded the software for it and started the installation process. After some careful consideration I’ve decided that I’d like the interface for the webcam software to present itself in 1234567890123456789012345678901234567890123456789012345678901234567890 as I’ve been trying to learn it for a while...

Animal Behaviour And Animal Communication

Posted By Mark on Aug 19, 2013

Are pet psychics genuine? Let’s ask this squirrel using the power of telepathy! There’s a difference between animal behaviour and animal communication and you’ll see for yourself what it is if you read this article in the Baltimore Sun: “What your cat is really trying to tell you“. But you don’t even need to read that article to know what the difference is. If you’ve ever had a pet then you learn to know what your pet wants based on how it acts; that’s animal behaviour and it’s something that comes from observation and experience. At no point – unless you’re batshit crazy – do you start hearing voices or imagine that your pet is transmitting images into your brain; that’s animal communication and it doesn’t happen. Ever. If someone approaches you and tells you that there’s a woodlouse with a message from beyond the grave for you you’re going to think they’re nuts. And you’re right to do so. A snail wants to let you know it was okay that you trod on it while putting the bins out late at night? I don’t think so. But a gerbil you loved as a child wants to appease your guilt over leaving the cage open near that window ledge? If you’re interested then that’s wishful thinking on your behalf and either con-artistry or delusional behaviour from whomever is acting as the medium. It doesn’t become more plausible because the animal’s cute or belongs to the Mammalia class. But, back to the article, which is mostly about Terri Diener: In his writings on the subject, [Skeptical Inquirer research fellow Joe] Nickell says pet psychics employ the same “cold reading” techniques that fortunetellers use to gather information from a source “while giving the impression it is obtained mystically.” These include stating obvious facts, asking questions and making safe or vague statements. Indeed. And unlike a psychic who works with humans there’s no chance at all that the subject can look puzzled and say: “Er, no actually, that’s not what I was thinking at all.” Very handy if you’re making it up as you go along. Of course, these animal communicators or pet psychics want to be taken seriously. Hampstead animal communicator Diane Carlson says she sometimes tries to prove her legitimacy to new clients by asking animals to show or tell her something only their owners would know. “Ninety-eight percent of the time, it proved to be right,” Carlson says. I’m convinced. Are you? But wait! It’s not just people quoting statistics with no actual figures to back up any of it. An actual veterinarian has something to say! Dr. Christina...