Halloween Special!

Halloween (or All-Hallows-Even, as the Scottish variant that gave birth to the name goes) is not a big thing in Australia. However, as the world has grown smaller and smaller with the increase of faster and faster technology, customs that were once ignored here in the sunburnt land of Oz have started to creep into society. As a result, Halloween, this year, was noticeable more prominent than usual- stores had merchandise, parties were in abundance and tonight, on Hallows Eve itself, three kids showed up at my front door looking for candy.

However, Australian Halloween seems to be a lazier variant of the stereotypical American one, because these kids weren't dressed up at all. They just said "Trick or Treat" and expected food, to which I obliged.

I don't feel bad, but the kids could've dressed up, costumes are awesome.

LoLternatives

It's always refreshing when I e-chat to people nearby and I hear that their laughter coincides with their 'lol'. Nobody likes the chronic 'lol'er, especially when they are merely faking.



If you find yourself typing 'lol' without performing the act itself, consider one of these acceptable (yet silent) lolternatives: (p.s, feel free to add to this list)
"How amusing"
"Good one"
"That's clever"
"You have me rofling inside"
"TFTL - too funny to laugh"
"Genius!"
"That one made me smile"

Or if all else fails, just revert to the infallible:

"I don't get it"


Remember folks, it's never too late to start typing in an honest and responsible manner!

It doesn't taste like a Doctor, nor does it taste like Pepper!

And the people say I'M the crazy one.


On a brighter note, the NBA season started today so if I vanish for long periods of time, I'm more likely glued to the couch (as opposed to being dead).

"Don't Feel Bad for the Suicidal Cats..."

"...They've got to kill themselves nine times before they get it right."

This charming line emerged from my car speakers the other day while I was waiting in the cursed peak-hour-trying-to-get-home-from-uni traffic. It's from a song called 'West Coast Smoker' by Chicago Pop-Punk sensations Fall Out Boy and it inspired a (wholly incomprehensible) blueprint to save cats worldwide from misery. That is assuming that all cats worldwide read my blog and have access to gasoline, a boat, burning house and other things.

Disclaimer: I don't condone suicide in any shape or form, but this was a fun concept to think about.

The Looming Shadow

Exams are on the horizon, and it is getting to that point where I should start studying. Studying now would give me a decent (if not ideal) amount of time for facts and figures to sink into my brain. This would be preferable to a night of cramming which would probably just leave me stressed and basically in the same position I would've been in had I not bothered to hit the books at all.

However, in the study I have done, I've noticed a distinct trend in not only my desire to study, but in the quality of my study. I have arranged this discovery as a visual representation here:


So, this issue seems to be less about me STUDYING and more about me distancing myself from the infinite wonders of the Interweb. Of course, that is easier said than done, and chances are if it would happen, a similar graph would come about, albeit with the words "Internet Speed" replaced by "Quality of Television Currently Airing".

Which we all know would just end up looking like this:

Primary Reason Why Generation X Shouldn't Use Eye-Charts (alternatively, PRWGXSUEC)

Random Monday!!

A few weeks ago (within the late September/early October bracket) I visited my home town for just about a week. It was good to see family and friends and do my best to polish up my (already adequate) Halo 3 multiplayer skills, but one of the real highlights came during one of my last nights at home.

I was out in the garage rummaging through boxes looking for books when I found an entire box of my old stuff. Trophies, watches, little Tech-Deck skateboards and a plain, nondescript notebook.

Now, I have no memory of writing what was within this notebook, but on the inside cover it had my name, my signature and a little "©" copyright sign. It also had some (terribly) drawn comics which, although completely and utterly nonsensical, I found to be absolutely hilarious.

I left the book, but remembered the comics, one of which (in upgraded digital format) goes as follows:



Oh Young Nate, you random specimen, there are so many ideas I wish to steal from you...

This Months Obsession

Now, I'm not one to normally play games or, in turn, get addicted to playing games, but this one is amazing. Like all of the best things in the category of "things I would call amazing", the plot behind Plants vs Zombies is easily explained. In fact, it's essentially in the title.

You are a homeowner in Zombie-Infested suburbia. Besides 'Crazy Dave' (your neighbour and only human compatriot) you are friendless in a world of Brain-Hungry-Zombies. Your only chance to survive? By planting clever shrubs that inflict damage on the advancing undead is quickly and strategically as possible. Plants cost sunlight which is generated by sunflowers. The more sunflowers you plant, the more sun you have, the more you can build up your garden (ie: fortress).



Your arsenal ranges from fast firing pea-shooters to slow timing potato-mines. You've got wallnuts that'll act as shields and cherry bombs that'll blow up anyone nearby. There's everything, melon catapults, corn-cob-cannons, and they all come accompanied with hilarious back stories.

Check it out from the official website, there's a free trial download that gives you one hour of playing time, but be warned, it is very very very addictive.

At least it was for me, I mean, I can't even pick flowers for my girlfriend now without considering the consequences...

Juggling? More like 'Druggling'

A few months ago I learned to juggle, a simple, yet, elegant skill that (up until then) had avoided my extra-cirricular education.

However, much to the dismay of my close friends (especially that of my wonderful girlfriend) this skill became a habit, which turned into an obsession and is now a fully fledged addiction.

Well, maybe not- that above paragraph is potentially exaggerated- but there clearly is an issue when every department store I enter finishes with me juggling the three most spherical (and least breakable) items I can find.



Is this a problem?

A Visual Representation Of My Day Thus Far

Essay Due: Tuesday, 12th of October.

Current Level of Completion: 0%

WISH ME LUCK =D

Foreign Food for Chumps

Today I drove past a sign that said 'Indian Food, $7.00'... Which lead to me thinking, "could this work for countries of... limited... food supply?"

Well, I ran the idea past my girlfriend and she laughed and told me I should make it into a comic.

So that is just what I did!



I feel I should put this on my list of "Potential-Get-Rich-Quick-Schemes", but I am wary of the costs of setting up a booth and the prospect of word travelling around that I don't actually sell anything...

While we're on the subject of food, this week I've decided that I am going to clean up my eating habits (at least until Christmas). I went to a fresh-produce market and bought myself a whole buttload of fruit and vegies before visiting a butcher and getting some cheap meat. I also got myself a juicer so I could replace my abundant intake of fizz with something juicier and somewhat more nutritional.

So far, I'm feeling good. It's too early for the health benefits to kick in, but the fact that I am actually doing it seems to have given me some kind of boost on its own. If you're wallowing a sea of poor nutrition and boredom, I would recommend you try it out too, if only just so you can tell me I'm wrong!

Back From Holidays

And we return to reality.

In this case, reality is a car that is in desperate need of a service, a major university assignment (with more than a couple more on the horizon) and an empty fridge.

The only thing getting me through today is the practice match between Miami Heat and Detroit Pistons and the technology (and know-how) to watch it online.

Sorry for the break. Comics, hilarity and whatever else I can muster will return soon... Now, if only I could slay these assignments like some kind of Warrior Poet...