h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Nice! Gives new meaning to "scratching", eh?

Tiggaz With Attitude.

Nice!

Goodness. "Ask" is just so confusing this week- at least for someone who comes from a land without "public" unemployment benefits. It's such a foreign concept, "living" on benefits... here, you're only entitled if you've paid in for at least 18 consecutive months, neither quit your job nor were fired through any fault of your own, apply for a minimum of 10 jobs per week and acept the first reasonable offer. And they only pay out aboout 50%-75% of what your salary was in the last quarter you were employed, and for 6 months (9 if you request and qualify for an emergecny 90-day extension). It really isn't the same thing at all. I get so confused reading threads about unemployment elsewhere.

Tired as hell today. How's tricks with you?

Found this over the weekend; you might appreciate it:

http://lolvangelists.blogspot.com/

I love that last one on the page. Reminds me of Ned Beatty and his missus with "Foo-Foo" in Repossessed.

The benefit system in the UK is clearly infinitely softer than the States - it does have its issues though, and plenty of screams of disgust from the I-Don't-Pay-My-Taxes-Just-So Brigade. Staying out of that though, as a recovering indigent myself.

I'm tired as hell too. Hauled over 1000kg of paper and card yesterday. But mostly tired of the job, and waiting to hear if I'm worth what I should have been worth a good year ago.

Any plans for the weekend?

Varying quality, but this should be worth a few laughs...

http://www.b3ta.com/challenge/muppets/

Oh, dear- that won't pass the web filter at the office, so I'll have to wait till I'm home to have a look.

Mind you, I'm not griping about our unemployment system. The only real beefs I could make about it is that there are never enough employees working so the few times I went into the facility, it took an hour or so to complete everything. I think that the system here, in Illinois anyway, is great. I had the luxury of a 15-month unemployment when I first registered here (though I was quite bored not working), waiting for the "right" job instead of taking something that wouldn't have worked out well.

Weekend plans, nothing much, really. We're planning to see the newest Harry Potter movie, but that's about it, as far as I know. The weather's going to be gorgeous- mid 70s F- so it'll be nice for a night out (I'd rather go late when there are fewer kids in the audience) and we can take public transport rather than drive. What sort of plans do you have?

I suppose that's the difference - here you get money for a fortnight, and every few weeks you have to give evidence you've been actively looking for work; that is unless there's Something Wrong With You.

Not up to much, this is the last weekend before we head off to Eastern Haze, so I'm spending as little as possible and will probably get on and watch the Star Wars trilogy (for the bazillionth time, but never on DVD).

Enjoy Harry Potter! Only a matter of days before the final adventure

Not that different from ours- we have to file every two weeks in Illinois, up to six months. I guess the biggest difference is that ours isn't taxpayer-funded: a small amount is withheld from your paycheck, your employer contributes a bit, like any other kind of insurance. And you absolutely have to have evidence that you have looked for work.

If there's Something Wrong With You, you get disability.

Still never seen any Star Wars, and still don't feel particularly inclined to do so.

Next Saturday, I'll probably be sitting on the front porch, or hanging out the living room window, watching for the Fed Ex truck with my copy of the last book. The suspense is killing me!!

Then, the next week, it's the Simpsons movie. Busy month!

Don't I ever wish I might stumble across this Sunday's daily mail. What a racket being raised about that Prince CD.

Watched an unusual movie this evening- nothing to fuss over, but intriguing. A Korean flick called "301/302". Good thing we ate first.

Oh, yeah- dentist next Tuesday and Thursday. My choppers will be sore for a couple of days, but my gums have hurt on and off for months, so it'll be a relief in the end. Stupid wisdom teeth.

Herman's being a royal pain in the ass tonight. Much indignant meowing would indicate that sufficient undivided attention is NOT being paid.

Have a great weekend!

It's to your immense credit that you've never seen Star Wars. I admire your self-discipline

The Simpsons movie looks to be great, and I'm very looking forward to Transformers too

Sorry you're having to get dental work done, hope it settles things down for you. Wondering about that Prince CD, though. I've heard "Not Like I Love My Guitar" and thought not much of it really. Nothing's been a patch on 1999. Remember when that was in The Future?

Have a good weekend.

I'll survive the dental work, somehow. Gawd, I hate having such sensitive teeth.

Weekend's off to a good start, and I don't go back till the 23rd, so I can plan how I want to attack the week.

HP movie tomorrow. That's about the extent of the weekend plans. Hope you're enjoying yours!

This would no doubt be more entertaining if you were fully familiar with Doctor Who and his nemesis The Master. But...

http://nostalgia-lj.livejournal.com/1336208.html

Have a lovely, restful vacation.

Well, it is amusing! I assume that is the newer Dr Who that I hear so much about? We don't get that here.

Another tragic deficiency in the Land Of Opportunity... Well, at least you have decent food.

How was HP?

I enjoyed it. It didn't leave me with the same feeling as the others have, and some of the rather important plot points were sort of glazed over- one that should have been elaborated on was not. I think I'd rather the movie had been 15 or 20 minutes longer and a couple of things not touched on so briefly. But, I still enjoyed it, and it looked great.

Like the books, it's becoming more apparent to the kids that even when you have the power to change or control events in your life, it still ain't all "magical".

It's true we are somewhat deficient in the TV department (though, oddly enough, most of the shows I've glanced at once or twice and disliked are the ones most popular with my friends abroad). And it's only fair to clarify and say that *some* places have decent food.

Much less excitement on the agenda for today: buy cat litter and food, and do laundry.

http://www.b3ta.com/board/7395787

One film that really stuck out for its flagrant disregard for the book that spawned it (and you know I'm not at all well-read) is Carl Sagan's Contact. An excellent novel, well worth a look. As for the film, apart from the seriously cool opening sequence, what a mawkish piece of crap. Profoundly beneath Jodie Foster. Plus I never liked Tom Skerrit or Matthew Mcwhatsisface.

I hope you're going to get a good chance to rest up for a while, sounds like you've more than earned it.

Now *that* is inspired! And how sweet of you to remember my Muppet "thang".

Blatant disregard for the books that inspired movies is a continual source of annoyance, isn't it? In this case, it was a matter of trying to get the longest book into the shortest film, when just making it a bit longer would've been fine. Sometimes, though, there's barely any resemblance at all.

I think I'm going to go back to bed for a bit.

http://www.b3ta.com/board/7419628

Off to the festival this evening http://www.easternhaze.com

I'll be incommunicado until Monday but just wanted to wish you the best for the rest of your vacation and good wishes for your dental health.