28.11.06

almost busted...

Where's the fucking camera when I need one?

When I was on the way to Krav Maga training, I saw this gypsy carrying a table over his shoulders. Now this is a guy who is out on the streets with a cane, pretending to be somewhat crippled (though without the Parkinsons-shaking like some of his cohorts), in order to get people to feel sorry for him and toss coins in his paper cup, the one he loves to shake and shove in people's faces. He even had his cane nicely tucked into the table, so that he could carry both...

Damn. That would have made a nice blog entry, if the press couldn't be bothered to publish the photos. You know, one of those side-by-side is he cripple-is he strong and healthy deals. Better yet, make huge posters and hang them up all over town.

*sigh*...

When am I ever going to get such an opportunity to bust one of those filthy bastards again?

24.11.06

way to go, South Africa! (once again)

from the BBC: SA court boosts gay inheritance

South Africa's highest court has ruled that gay people can inherit the property of their partners who die without a will.

The Constitutional Court said existing succession laws discriminated against same-sex couples.

The court said that whenever the word "spouse" was mentioned in the laws, the words "or partner in a same-sex life partnership" should be added.

South Africa's parliament last week legalised gay weddings.

The law is expected to come into effect on 1 December, making South Africa the first country in Africa to legalise same-sex unions.

Gay rights groups have welcomed the ruling on property rights.

The parliamentary vote on gay weddings followed a Constitutional Court ruling last year that same-sex couples should be allowed to get married.

The change was strongly opposed by some religious groups and traditional leaders.

South Africa has one of the world's most liberal constitutions - it was the first to outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation.

23.11.06

champagne's delicious bubbles...

...though not always.

Boyfriend of feitpingvin and I were at a champagne tasting last night. We were hoping that maybe we would taste something that would be good enough for our New Year's Eve feast. We left the place unimpressed and disappointed...

We tasted the champagnes of Heidsieck & Co and Pommery. We tasted three different champagnes from Heidsieck & Co., and two of them were actually quite nice, espcially the third one (Diamant Bleu from 1999). The first one wasn't bad either but not something I would put high on my list. But not something I would say no to either...

The five Pommery champagnes, on the other hand, were a huge disappointment, and as they were the last ones to be tasted, it kind of ruined the mood for the rest of the evening. They all smelled the same, despite different grape blends, and they all pretty much tasted the same - boooooooring. There was nothing about any of the indifidual champagnes that made them stand out. *yaaaaaawn* There was one that would maybe be OK with some food, but I won't rush out to buy it just to test that theory...

Let's just say I spat more than I swallowed... urgh :-/

My general experience with champagne is that it is a bit overrated and definitely overpriced - you rarely get what you pay for. As opposed to cava (from Spain), one of my personal favorites when it comes to sparkling wine. If you want to stick to French bubblies, try a Crémant de Bourgogne from Burgundy. I've found these are often tastier than champagne and you get more for what you pay for.

Now if only I could get some of the Haute Cabrière sparkling wines here... *sigh* ;-)

22.11.06

torture for two...

Try this one out sometime:

You lie on the mat, your partner straddles over you. Hold each other by the wrists. Alternate doing the following: your partner (still holding your wrists) lifts you up from the ground (sort of like a deadlift). You (still holding your partner's wrists) do a pull-up. Five times each. Immediately after do 10 push-ups. And 25 squats right after that. Then switch roles - your partner lies on the mat and you are straddled over your partner. Do that thing with the lifts/pull-ups again. And the push-ups again. And the squats again. Switch again. Continue doing this for 20 minutes. Try to get as may rounds in as possible.

Good fun :-)

15.11.06

congrats South Africa!

South Africa's parliament has voted to legalise same-sex weddings - the first African country to approve such unions...

"In breaking with our past... we need to fight and resist all forms of discrimination and prejudice, including homophobia."


The ruling was based on the constitution, which was the first in the world specifically to outlaw discrimination on the grounds of sexual preference.

9.11.06

and they wonder why kids are getting so damn fat...

regulations kill playgrounds

Fucking bureaucrats, politicians, and lawyers. And helicopter parents... don't think you're getting away with anything. Because it's your fault for suing in the first place when your little urchin scrapes his precious knee on the playground...

Neverfuckingmind that kids have been climbing and falling and getting scraped knees and stuff for generations with no problems for the most part... noooooooo, now we have to produce future generations of fat, uncoordinated, useless deadbeats with all those lovely health problems that only old people used to get... good going! Congratufuckinglations!

2.11.06

utterly impossible...

We learn lots of different defenses in Krav Maga. However, there is something you can never defend yourself against...


The guy who works in the reception area where we train has a puppy quite similar to the one shown in the link. It's not possible to walk past it without giving it a cuddle. It's not possible at all...