Monthly Archives: December 2011

Life, Travel

You say tomato, I say tomato – the English language in America

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Geek Ergo Sum USIt has been said that Britain and America are separated by a common language, but this completely ignores the 3,000 miles of Atlantic Ocean that happens to be between us. That’s a testable and provable fact; I checked it out myself when I flew over it.

I had a conversation the other night regarding the education of any future children in America (named Velociraptor and Stormageddon) and some of the quirks of Anglo-American conventions on language came to light. In the interests of cross-Pond special relations I made some effort to compromise with my Stateside girlfriend and agreed that any progeny could use Americanisms, I would just choose to shun and ignore them if they did.

If they want their lunch wrapped in Aluminum foil then I would try to find this imaginary element and failing to do so would leave their sandwiches to dry out. If they choose to add in the extra ‘i’ and spell it correctly then no more dried crusts. Continue reading →

Food, Life

Not a picky eater

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Geek Ergo Sum GagaConsidering I don’t like cheese, mushroom, onions, liver, green vegetables, other coloured vegetables and most fruit; I don’t consider that I am a picky eater.

It’s not that I don’t have an aversion to certain food groups (mainly those that don’t walk around the fields before they get to my plate), but more that I am not the kind of person who would kick up a stink because someone had left a tiny bit of skin on a chicken breast or a tiny sliver of fat on the bacon.

I have got used to having to move those pieces of food I find offensive to one side of the plate, it’s not that hard to shift a slice of mushroom from within a lasagna. If it’s on the plate it’s not in my stomach, the same as if it had remained in the store. Net result is no fungi in my mouth. Continue reading →

Geek Ergo Sum Book
Books, Geekery

Opened a book, 100 points

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There is no better way to motivate me than offering me a badge or trophy for doing something. Being given points for completing tasks or acting in a certain way can control the way I live my live. I am a scorewhore.

This morning I received an email from Goodreads telling me I was so close to completing my year’s target of reading 30 books, and if I did achieve it then I would get a special badge to place on my profile. This sent me into a frenzy, I mean a badge for reading! Then the two people who view my profile will be able to see that in 2011 I read an awful lot. Continue reading →

Games, Geekery

A real hero

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Geek Ergo Sum SkyrimI have been saving the world. I say saving, but it’s more accurate to say thieving, murdering, mining and doing everything but saving the world. Since November 11th I have been the Dovahkiin, the Dragonborn, a hero, I have been addicted to Skyrim.

For those not in the know, it is a massive RPG game placing you in the snowy northern lands of Tamriel where the dragon Alduin the Great has risen, and the Elder Scrolls prophesise that this will bring around the end of the world. Bearing in mind that I have already saved the world the last time the Elder Scrolls said it was going to end I’m not sure how much trust I place in them. As the last of the Dovahkiin, those born to slay dragons, I am meant to be running around trying to prevent this destruction.

Except I’m not a hero. Continue reading →