Some original Maian Art. Pick your favourite and use as a desktop.

The British Home Secretary, Alan Johnson announced Britain had raised its
terror threat level from substantial to severe, suggesting that an
attack is “highly likely.” He goes on to state: “This means that a terrorist attack is highly likely, but I should stress that there is no intelligence to suggest that an attack is
imminent.”

Take the definition of each of these words, and rewrite the sentence.

Definition of the words:
Likely: having a high probability of occurring or being true : very probable
Imminent: ready to take place

Before: This means that a terrorist attack is highly likely, but I should
stress that there is no intelligence to suggest that an attack is imminent.
After: This means that a terrorist attack has a high probability of
occurring, but I should stress that there is no intelligence to suggest
that an attack is ready to take place.

So what he is really saying is: the terrorists will attack unprepared?

This is not the first time a politician came up with such drivel to keep the sheeple in place: In 2004, US Attorney General John Ashcroft informed law enforcement officials that without a doubt an attack was going to
be perpetrated in the US within the next 6 weeks, prior to the elections.

Don’t be a sheeple! Refuse to be terrorized. Not by terrorists and not by government!

In Sheep’s Clothing: Understanding and Dealing with Manipulative People

Sheep in a Jeep (Read-Along Book & CD)

The English are feeling the pinch in relation to recent terrorist threats and have raised their security level from “Miffed” to “Peeved.”

Soon, though, security levels may be raised yet again to “Irritated” or even “A Bit Cross.” The English have not been “A Bit Cross” since the blitz in 1940 when tea supplies all but ran out. Terrorists have been re-categorised from “Tiresome” to a “Bloody Nuisance.” The last time the British issued a “Bloody Nuisance” warning level was during the great fire of 1666.

The Scots raised their threat level from “Pissed Off” to “Let’s get the Bastards.” They don’t have any other levels. This is the reason they have been used on the front line in the British army for the last 300 years.

The French government announced yesterday that it has raised its terror alert level from “Run” to “Hide”. The only two higher levels in France are “Collaborate” and “Surrender.” The rise was precipitated by a recent fire that destroyed France’s white flag factory, effectively paralysing the country’s military capability.

It’s not only the French who are on a heightened level of alert. Italy has increased the alert level from “Shout loudly and excitedly” to “Elaborate Military Posturing.” Two more levels remain: “Ineffective Combat Operations” and “Change Sides.”

The Germans also increased their alert state from “Disdainful Arrogance” to “Dress in Uniform and Sing Marching Songs.” They also have two higher levels: “Invade a Neighbour” and “Lose”.

Belgians, on the other hand, are all on holiday as usual, and the only
threat they are worried about is NATO pulling out of Brussels.

The Spanish are all excited to see their new submarines ready to deploy. These beautifully designed subs have glass bottoms so the new Spanish navy can get a really good look at the old Spanish navy.

Americans meanwhile are carrying out pre-emptive strikes on all of their allies, just in case.

New Zealand has also raised its security levels – from “baaa” to “BAAAA!”. Due to continuing defence cutbacks (the air force being a squadron of spotty teenagers flying paper aeroplanes and the navy some toy boats in the Prime Minister’s bath), New Zealand only has one more level of escalation, which is “Shit, I hope Australia will come and rescue us”.

Australia , meanwhile, has raised its security level from “No worries” to “She’ll be alright, mate”. Three more escalation levels remain, “Crikey!’, “I think we’ll need to cancel the barbie this weekend” and “The barbie is cancelled”. So far no situation has ever warranted use of the final escalation level.

Came across this website in my search for old computer games, gaming info, emulators and other resources. Truly the most complete I have seen, well laid out and very informative.

The Old Computer Dot Com is dedicated to all aspects of retro computing, collecting and gaming. You will find emulators and Roms for many weird and defunked formats as well as libraries full of material like commercials, magazines and manuals. This website is owned, designed and maintained by one person, namely, Hot Trout.  This site has 56,939 Roms, over 47 Formats, and at my last visit, on the 12th of February listed the last update as on Jan 2010, so not a dead at all.

A pledge to the Nation

To see only abilities not the colour of your skin
To recognise only potential not the failure of the fathers
To acknowledge accomplishment not decry the feats of competitors
To accept responsibility for my deeds not blame actions of others

A pledge to my nation

Together in a journey from the unknown past to an uncertain future
Building today on the foundations of yesterday a tomorrow for our children

About 3 years ago, I bought a breadmachine from Boardmans in Menlyn.
Last year in November, the pan section broke and I visited the branch
on a Saturday to obtain a replacement part. On the surface the staff
were very efficient. They promised to phone me back on Monday, with
availability and price information. On Monday I was phoned back. The
suppliers did not have a part in stock, but I was promised that I
would be contacted again.

After 2 weeks my wife inquired again, and
was again promised she would be phoned back. I have since tried via
their website (twice), where I was again promised that someone would
contact me. Reference numbers: 125448720091127S.G.N and
127694920100107S.G.N.

It is now three months since my initial attempt.
I can’t afford to drive to Menlyn every few days. If the part is not
available, I need to know so that I can consider buying a new machine
(not from them though). And also, if it is not available, why are they
selling machines for which parts are not available!

Although this complaint is related to Boardmans, everywhere Edcon (CON -
HAHA!) is used when you try to contact Boardmans.

A company, Nesch, has developed a system to to body cavity scanners. The system, called diffraction-enhanced X-ray imaging or DEXI, uses diffraction enhanced imaging and multiple image radiography can supposedly “detect substances such as explosive materials … hidden inside or outside of the human body.” The new technique reveal more than conventional X-rays, which makes it useful for both medical and security applications. A normal X-ray shows mainly the skeleton. This technology are capable of producing X-ray images with better image quality, more information and less radiation.

The government has said they will combine the system with the new health reform system. In combination with the scanners at security counters, each checkpoint will also have a dentist and GP doing community service time. The more you fly, the more you save on healthcare. To streamline the new system, the Airports Company of South Africa has already started to do away with domestic and international terminals, making the terminals at OR Tambo Internation multi-use.

Rumour has it that some airlines will introduce seats with stirrups, serving three purposes, contraband, ob-gyn and the mile high club.

You are all taking a chance with you health and you life. Take a look at:

1. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/bitter-orange/AN01218
   

   With bitter orange, you may develop migraines, fainting, and potentially deadly stroke and heart attack.

2. http://nccam.nih.gov/health/bitterorange/
   

   Many herbal weight-loss products now use concentrated extracts of bitter orange peel in place of ephedra. However, bitter orange contains the chemical synephrine, which is similar to the main chemical in ephedra. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration banned ephedra because it raises blood pressure and is linked to heart attacks and strokes; it is unclear whether bitter orange has similar effects. There is currently little evidence that bitter orange is safer to use than ephedra.

   There have been reports of fainting, heart attack, and stroke in healthy people after taking bitter orange supplements alone or combined with caffeine.

3. http://www.raysahelian.com/bitterorange.html
   

   Do not take bitter orange daily for many weeks or months without a break.

4. http://www.drugs.com/npp/bitter-orange.html
   

   There are numerous case reports of adverse cardiac reactions associated with C. aurantium extract use.

5. http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/expert.q.a/07/31/bitter.orange.extract.appetite.jampolis/
   

   As soon as they stop taking the pills, their appetite returns, and they regain weight.

6. http://www.yourlawyer.com/topics/overview/bitter_orange
   And you know there are issues once the lawyers get involved:

   On July 27, 2004, the FDA announced that it is going to start looking into the safety of alternatives to Ephedra. One product that has filled the market niche of Ephedra is Bitter Orange (generic name: Citrus Aurantium). It contains Synerphrine, which brings about stimulation similar to Ephedra and many believe that it is as dangerous as Ephedra.

7. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bitter_orange
   

   “While bitter orange has not undergone formal safety testing, it can cause the same spectrum of adverse events as ephedra.^[7] Case reports have linked bitter orange supplements to strokes,^[8][9] angina,^[10] and ischemic colitis.^[11] The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine found that “there is currently little evidence that bitter orange is safer to use than ephedra.”^[4] There is no evidence that bitter orange is effective in promoting weight loss.”

8. http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/read/7430
   

   A lot of people will die waiting to get it off the market, Woolsey says.

Saying “Luckily the only side affect that I experienced“, means you took a gamble, and thought you won. But the casinos win on average most of the time. And judging by the comments on hellopeter.com, the casino is winning again.

Using instructions from The Gang of Pour, Hot.Sour.Salty.Sweet. And Umami, pimpernels, The Earth Clinic and nature moms, I am attempting to make my own wine vinegar at home.

My starting assembly consists of a glass jar with cotton cloth cover held in place with rubber bands. Some people advise against rubber bands, as they will perish over time. Using three will mitigate somewhat against this, and if the process works, a more permanent solution will be found.

Above is the starter assembly. I do not have a vinegar mother, and is hoping that one will form de novo. If I can get hold of some raw vinegar, it will be added. From what I understand, using a mother will make the process start faster.

Inside has been added all the leftover wine in the cupboards and fridge. This has been used for cooking up till now.

With the 2010 FIFA World Cup coming up, a number of places, including the government, are giving advice on visiting South Africa.  The UK government has a section dealing with travel and transport in South Africa. They have an interesting line somewhere under the heading Stay safe:

expect the unexpected as the local driving style varies from that of the UK

They do sadly lack in more visual information, so this is an attempt to illustrate some of the more “unexpected” driving styles which we take for granted:

Line-yellow-solid-what-line-it’s-not-my-line:

z

Possible reading: The Rough Guide to South Africa 5 (Rough Guide Travel Guides)