Diary of a Disordered Mind - Filed under 'random'

December 6, 2009

Local Crime for Local People

It so happens that I've subscribed to the thisisoxford rss feed, which includes the Scales of Justice page; a round-up of people convicted at the Oxfordshire Magistrates' Courts recently. I was drown to the plight of 20-year old woman from Oxford who had been convicted of:

shoplifting a £7.49 bottle of rum from Tesco in Oxford on July 17; racially aggravated intentional harassment towards ... on the same date; racially aggravated intentional harassment towards ... on the same date; shoplifting facial wipes and a Durex Play Vibe valued at £8.73 from Sainsbury's in Oxford on October 28; commission of a further offence while subject to a suspended sentence and commission of a further offence while subject to a conditional discharge.

I'm wondering exactly what circumstances would require the need for both face-wipes and a disposable vibrator...

Filed under // FAIL random

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December 3, 2009

On the 12th Day of Christmas My True love Gave To Me, a Bill for $21,465.56

Have you ever wondered how much all of the gifts from the Twelve Days of Christmas song would cost, were your true-love to decide you had far too few Lords a leaping at home? No, me neither, but PNC Financial Services have and since 1984 they've worked out both the Christmas Price Index (the combined cost of all 78 gifts) and the True Cost of Christmas (the cumulative cost of all gifts; in the song the recipient receives a partridge in a pear tree each day, two turtle doves from day 2 to 12 etc). It's very tongue-in-cheek but taken very seriously, so much so that they "buy" the gifts each year from the same sources:

Waterloo Gardens, a Philadelphia nursery. Gordon's Jewelers provided the cost of five 14-carat gold rings, and Philadanco, a modern dance company in Philadelphia, offered the price of ladies dancing. The Pennsylvania Ballet gave the price of the lords a-leaping. Prices for the musicians in the song—the drummers and pipers—were provided by a Pennsylvania musicians union. Lastly, maids a-milking are the only unskilled laborers in the Index, and as such, they reflect the minimum wage.

extract from pncchristmaspriceindex.com

The index suggests a modest, compared to last year, 1.8% increase, due, says PNC:

to the weak economy in 2009

Moreover, the official press release shows that internet savvy shoppers could even save money this year compared to last with a 2.7% fall in the index. However, bargain hunters should head to the high-street for the best deals, as traditional shoppers would save almost $10k over their techie counterparts.

You must have flash to see this embedded document.

Filed under // Christmas random

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November 18, 2009

An Old Favourite: BadgerBadgerBadger

A genius flash cartoon by British animator Jonti Picking. Click here for the full cartoon.

Filed under // badger cartoon random retro

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November 4, 2009

Another Anniversary Google Doodle

via google.co.uk

Google celebrate 40 years of Sesame Street

Filed under // google random

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November 4, 2009

Edenbridge to Burn 30ft Jordan; Nick Griffin "Too Political"

via news.bbc.co.uk

Having decided against burning Nick Griffin, a 30ft Jordan will go up in flames to mark bonfire night in Edenbridge, Kent.

On deciding against an effigy of the BNP leader, co-ordinator of the bonfire society Charles Laver said

We didn't want to do Nick Griffin because we felt he had received too much publicity already.

Also, we are not a political organisation, we do this just for the fun of it and we didn't want to aggravate people too much by choosing someone like Nick.

Filed under // news random

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November 3, 2009

Knight on a Shining Bicycle

via news.bbc.co.uk

Boris Johnson. Hero.

No, seriously.

I'm not making it up.

Franny Armstrong was walking down the street on Monday night when a group of "Oiks" set upon her, threatening her with an iron bar. Calling out for help, she caught the attention of a passing cyclist.

Boris.

He chased the girls down the street before returning the shaken Franny to walk her home.

Admitting that she had voted for Ken Livingston rather than Johnson in the Mayrol election, Franny commented: