A new category is born on this day: Game Animal
This goes someway towards compensating for the demise of Game Animal (the cunning, respectful moniker for the videogame blog I had for just over a year).
Author Archives: jon
Toilet Humour
Talking of urine, there’s an interesting article over at Games for Wii.
The Wii is Nintendo’s next ground-breaking console, due not soon enough as far as I’m concerned. As soon as I heard the name, it made me think, quite naturally, of toilets; it appears am not alone:
“We have received over 200,000 e-mails with complaints about the Wii, and the console name has been commonly associated with urine. We have been the target of many jokes, and we strongly believe that it’s a bad thing for the company’s reputation”, says Mike, who works at the marketing department of Nintendo.
No idea how true this is, since Mike has no surname, but I want to believe it so much.
To Wee Or Not To Wee
Friend to some
I have a problem when I wee. It’s embarrassing; the doctor would surely laugh me out of the surgery. I know that, as age becomes a more significant role in one’s life, the signs start to reveal themselves in unwanted ways, but I’m sure I’m unique in this particular problem; this makes it all the more difficult to accept.
You see, it’s like this: I flush the toilet before I finish weeing.
This is not an isolated case. I don’t remember when I received this urinal malfunction, but even though I am aware of its presence, I am unable to stop the process.
There is no apparant reason for my newfound habit, either. It’s not like I gain any time by flushing premeturely, since I still have to wait before I’ve finished urinating, however early I push the button. In fact, the only side-effect is negative: I have to flush a second time, which consumes more water – water that could be used by some poor Egyptian kid, who, because of my inability to control myself, has to walk 150 miles just to drink the scum that is known as the Nile.
So, I feel alienated, and do not know to whom I should turn. I feel like I shall carry this affliction for the rest of my life, which I’m beginning to hope is a short one.
A Search For Compliments
Apparently, this is my fifth year as a English teacher. Whilst not strictly true (this year I’ve been taking paternity leave), I am both surprised and impressed with the length of time I have held down a job. On the other hand, I enjoy teaching immensely, and really feel I have found a vocation.
It being a Friday night, and having nothing better to do, I’ve just surfed to the Swedish school inspectors site, to glean some information about the potential effectiveness of my teaching, and found a report based on last year’s visit.
In Sweden there is a national test for all children nearing the end of year five, being 11 years of age. This test includes Maths, Swedish and English, which are considered to be the most important subjects. Information regarding the pupils’ results is freely available (here), and on page fifteen the results speak for themselves:
63% passed Mathematics
84% passed Swedish
89% passed English
Nearly all the pupils have Arabic as a mother-tongue, so it is not as impressive as it looks, but 89% is still more than acceptable. This is due, in part, to Sweden hosting English/American programs on TV, but this alone cannot account for such a high pass-rate.
The best thing of all is that I have no teaching qualifications at all. In fact, I have fuck all education. I am interested in languages, though, and I do seem to be able to connect with the kids, both as an equal and teacher. So, a big “go fuck yourselves” to those in Sweden who are trying to ensure the nation’s children are taught by properly educated teacher.
Wicked Nintendo T-Shirt Wanted
Click for purchasing info. Please.
Everything about this t-shirt appeals to my dress-style. The colour is top (apple-green, eh; who would have thought it?), it’s got retro collar and cuffs (as have my most favourite t-shirts), and the wood-cut emblem of Link is wicked (no need for a bracketed comment, really; it says it all). I want one of these, and I reckon I’ll make the purchase before it hits my Chrimbo list.
The only thing that could be a potential problem is that it must be cold-washed.
Oh, and the quality must be worse than an MPEG, though. $18, only? Just have to order two, then.
This last sentence has nothing to do with this article. Without it there would be an ugly white space, due to the size of the picture. Now, though, it looks aesthetically pleasing, as well as making the entry appear more interesting.