tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-219097182024-03-13T10:58:37.910+00:00"that's an odd courgette"50 words of creative text...Dan/pepsoidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15694994268053738614noreply@blogger.comBlogger120125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21909718.post-33297528826680447072009-04-08T11:24:00.000+00:002009-04-08T11:25:01.198+00:00120. Cosmic Cuisine (8 Apr 09)<p align="justify">“What’s for tea?” said Mr Black Hole to Mrs Black Hole.<br />“Neutron stars, planetoids and space dust,” said Mrs Black Hole.<br />“Ooh lovely!” said Mr Black Hole, as he changed into a smarter event horizon, in preparation for the sumptuous banquet the delectable Mrs Black Hole had prepared for them.</p>Dan/pepsoidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15694994268053738614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21909718.post-27516544672308639922008-11-19T12:40:00.000+00:002008-11-19T12:41:04.244+00:00119. Facebook and the Merging of Souls (19 Nov 08)<div align="justify">When one makes "friends" with someone on Facebook, it is as if the two "friendees" are androids who directly plug into one another's consciousnesses, read a summation of the pertinent facts thereto and proceed from this initial analysis with the development of a relationship appropriate to such… or something! ;)</div>Dan/pepsoidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15694994268053738614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21909718.post-50136072317071875632008-11-19T12:39:00.001+00:002008-11-19T12:39:35.488+00:00118. Further Adventures of Frank & Yakamura pt10 (18 Nov 08)<p align="justify">And so, with an air of inevitability, Frank the Stick Insect and Yakamura Candleburger, Grand High Samurai of the Intergalactic Conglomeration of Non-Human Entities Who Feel Like There are Never Enough Hats in the Universe, went their separate ways.<br />"Fancy a game of Yahtzee?" said Yakamura to a passing duck.</p>Dan/pepsoidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15694994268053738614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21909718.post-17976139669064795142008-11-19T12:38:00.002+00:002008-11-19T12:39:02.118+00:00117. Further Adventures of Frank & Yakamura pt9 (18 Nov 08)<div align="justify">Yakamura snatched the Happyhat off Frank's bonce.<br />"I give up on you," said Yakamura. "You're beyond hope."<br />"And you're an idiot," said Frank.<br />"Stop calling me an idiot!" said Yakamura.<br />"Why?" said Frank.<br />"Because I'm not an idiot!" said Yakamura. "I am a wise old sage!"<br />"Ye Gods," said Frank.</div>Dan/pepsoidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15694994268053738614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21909718.post-60019149610698473132008-11-19T12:38:00.001+00:002008-11-19T12:38:31.899+00:00116. Further Adventures of Frank & Yakamura pt8 (18 Nov 08)<div align="justify">"I love tennis rackets!" said Frank.<br />Yakamura smiled smugly. "Go on…" he said.<br />"Tennis rackets are beautiful!" said Frank. "In fact…"<br />"Yes?" said Yakamura, whose smugness had reached astronomical proportions.<br />"They are the most beautiful objects in the world!" said Frank.<br />"Hurrah!" said Yakamura – smugness personified!<br />"Only joking…" said Frank.</div>Dan/pepsoidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15694994268053738614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21909718.post-73869916517947141822008-11-19T12:37:00.001+00:002008-11-19T12:37:55.052+00:00115. Further Adventures of Frank & Yakamura pt7 (18 Nov 08)<div align="justify">"Well?" said Yakamura (the part-time samurai).<br />"Well what?" said Frank.<br />"What are you thinking about?" said Yakamura.<br />"Tennis rackets," said Frank.<br />"And?" said Yakamura.<br />"And what?" said Frank.<br />"And," said Yakamura, "what is your opinion of tennis rackets?"<br />"Well…" started Frank; "umm…"<br />Then Frank had a bit of an epiphany!</div>Dan/pepsoidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15694994268053738614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21909718.post-73167883816686492702008-11-19T12:36:00.002+00:002008-11-19T12:37:17.340+00:00114. Further Adventures of Frank & Yakamura pt6 (18 Nov 08)<div align="justify">Frank the Stick Insect, with a great deal of reluctance, adorned his bonce with the item known as the "Happyhat."<br />Yakamura smiled.<br />"It suits you!" opined Yakamura.<br />"If you say so," said Frank.<br />"Think about something," said Yakamura.<br />"Like what?" said Frank.<br />"Anything!" said Yakamura.<br />Frank thought about tennis rackets.</div>Dan/pepsoidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15694994268053738614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21909718.post-932693681323181792008-11-19T12:36:00.001+00:002008-11-19T12:36:37.800+00:00113. Further Adventures of Frank & Yakamura pt5 (18 Nov 08)<div align="justify">"A hat?" said Frank to Yakamura. "What would I want with a hat?"<br />"It's not just any old hat," said Yakamura. "It's a Happyhat!"<br />"Oh good grief…" uttered Frank, his despair increasing.<br />"Put it on…" said Yakamura.<br />"No thanks…" said Frank.<br />"Put it on!" said Yakamura, more forcefully than previously.</div>Dan/pepsoidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15694994268053738614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21909718.post-56329408027092095992008-11-19T12:35:00.002+00:002008-11-19T12:36:07.080+00:00112. Further Adventures of Frank & Yakamura pt4 (18 Nov 08)<div align="justify">Yakamura slowly withdrew an object from within his voluminous robes.<br />"I'm not hungry, thanks," said Frank.<br />Yakamura replaced the beef'n'cabbage sandwich within his voluminous robes and withdrew (slowly) another object.<br />"I already have the latest 2000AD," said Frank.<br />Yakamura replaced the comic within his voluminous robes and withdrew another object…</div>Dan/pepsoidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15694994268053738614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21909718.post-83036751546828977702008-11-19T12:35:00.001+00:002008-11-19T12:35:35.737+00:00111. Further Adventures of Frank & Yakamura pt3 (18 Nov 08)<p align="justify">Yakamura sat beneath the cherry blossom tree.<br />"No thing is nothing, and yet nothing is all around," said Yakamura.<br />"Idiot," said Frank, who continued on his way.<br />"Wait!" said Yakamura.<br />"What?" said Frank.<br />"I have something for you," said Yakamura.<br />"It had better not be dice," said Frank.<br />It wasn't.</p>Dan/pepsoidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15694994268053738614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21909718.post-2477902016209788832008-11-19T12:34:00.001+00:002008-11-19T12:34:54.974+00:00110. Further Adventures of Frank & Yakamura pt2 (18 Nov 08)<div align="justify">Yakamura, whose "Mysterious Japanese Sage" look was proving to be somewhat elusive, on account of the fact that he was, in fact, "non-human," turned away from Frank and raised his thoughts to a higher plane.<br />"What are you doing?" said Frank, as he ceased passing by and looked at Yakamura.</div>Dan/pepsoidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15694994268053738614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21909718.post-27004694521152585012008-11-19T12:33:00.000+00:002008-11-19T12:34:19.899+00:00109. Further Adventures of Frank & Yakamura pt1 (18 Nov 08)<div align="justify">Yakamura (who was a samurai by "trade") sat beneath a cherry blossom tree, perfecting his "Mysterious Japanese Sage" look, as he attempted to consider the ways in which he could "rekindle the joy" in Frank (his "friend," the stick insect).<br />"What are you doing?" said Frank, as he passed by.</div>Dan/pepsoidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15694994268053738614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21909718.post-74811003871511934482008-11-18T12:56:00.001+00:002008-11-18T12:57:54.912+00:00108. The Continuing Adventures of Frank & Yakamura pt3 (18 Nov 08)<div align="justify">"You, my friend," declared Yakamura, "are no fun anymore!"<br />"Glad you've seen sense," said Frank, who would be happy indeed to no longer have to endure countless Yahtzee tournaments and being forced to feign interest at Yakamura's philosophical babblings.<br />("Hmm," wondered Yakamura; "how can I rekindle Frank's sense of joy?")</div>Dan/pepsoidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15694994268053738614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21909718.post-86103897497634937852008-11-18T12:55:00.003+00:002008-11-18T12:55:47.780+00:00107. The Continuing Adventures of Frank & Yakamura pt2 (18 Nov 08)<p align="justify">"Why not?" said Yakamura.<br />"Why not what?" said Frank.<br />"Why not play Yahtzee?" said Yakamura.<br />"Yahtzee is a game for fools," said Frank.<br />"Then we shall proudly declare ourselves to be fools!" said Yakamura.<br />"Whatever," said Frank. "I'm still not playing Yahtzee."<br />"Spoilsport!" said Yakamura.<br />"Oh bugger off," said Frank.</p>Dan/pepsoidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15694994268053738614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21909718.post-15424367951265405382008-11-18T12:55:00.001+00:002008-11-18T12:55:19.897+00:00106. The Continuing Adventures of Frank & Yakamura pt1 (18 Nov 08)<div align="justify">"Ho hum," said Frank the Stick Insect, as he lolled on a stick trying to look invisible.<br />"Ah-ha!" said Yakamura (a samurai), "there you are!"<br />"Oh carpetcheese…" uttered Frank, peeved at his inability to render himself invisible unto his annoying "friend," Yakamura.<br />"Let's play Yahtzee!" said Yakamura.<br />"No," said Frank.</div>Dan/pepsoidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15694994268053738614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21909718.post-84936766158677998772008-11-18T12:54:00.001+00:002008-11-18T12:54:45.586+00:00105. The Adventures of Frank & Yakamura pt4 (18 Nov 08)<div align="justify">"The idiot!" said Yakamura Candleburger, Grand High Samurai of the Intergalactic Conglomeration of Non-Human Entities Who Feel Like There are Never Enough Hats in the Universe.<br />"Sorry, I was distracted there for a minute by utter, inconsolable boredom," said Frank the Stick Insect. "What did you say?"<br />"Hmmmpph!" said Yakamura.</div>Dan/pepsoidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15694994268053738614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21909718.post-56711854528870800692008-11-18T12:53:00.002+00:002008-11-18T12:54:15.349+00:00104. The Adventures of Frank & Yakamura pt3 (18 Nov 08)<p align="justify">"Don't you want to know why words are like small globules of slightly congealed slugslime?" said Yakamura Candleburger, Grand High Samurai of the Intergalactic Conglomeration of Non-Human Entities Who Feel Like There are Never Enough Hats in the Universe.<br />"No!" said Frank the Stick Insect.<br />"Then you, my friend, are-"</p>Dan/pepsoidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15694994268053738614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21909718.post-63494985250424436252008-11-18T12:53:00.001+00:002008-11-18T12:53:43.186+00:00103. The Adventures of Frank & Yakamura pt2 (18 Nov 08)<div align="justify">"You're an idiot!" said Frank the Stick Insect to Yakamura Candleburger, Grand High Samurai of the Intergalactic Conglomeration of Non-Human Entities Who Feel Like There are Never Enough Hats in the Universe.<br />"Well at least I'm not a stick insect," said Yakamura Candleburger.<br />"Rather a stick insect than an idiot!"</div>Dan/pepsoidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15694994268053738614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21909718.post-30175791033663821622008-11-18T12:52:00.000+00:002008-11-18T12:53:14.462+00:00102. The Adventures of Frank & Yakamura pt1 (18 Nov 08)<div align="justify">"Words," said Yakamura Candleburger, Grand High Samurai of the Intergalactic Conglomeration of Non-Human Entities Who Feel Like There are Never Enough Hats in the Universe, "are like small globules of slightly congealed slugslime."<br />"Jeez," said Frank the Stick Insect, who had had quite enough of Yakamura Candleburger.<br />"What?" said Yakamura.</div>Dan/pepsoidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15694994268053738614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21909718.post-44150409550458223632008-11-18T12:51:00.002+00:002008-11-18T12:52:10.157+00:00101. Jammie Dodgers (17 Nov 08)What are they dodging?<br />And why are they "jammie"?<br />And furthermore, why is "jammie" spelt with an "ie" and not a "y"?<br />Time to spellcheck!<br /><br />Tiz true, "jammie" is, in fact, not a real word.<br />"Jammy," however, means…<br />"covered in or filled with jam"<br /><br />But what are they dodging?! :Dan/pepsoidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15694994268053738614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21909718.post-8620725805186858422008-11-18T12:51:00.001+00:002008-11-18T12:51:28.836+00:00100. Perplexed by Japan (17 Nov 08)I've read some of their books, played some of their games…<br />…and I continue to be perplexed by Japan!<br />A "childlike" culture?<br />"Childlike" = lesser?<br />No!<br />Koji Suzuki's "Ring"… "Spiral"… "Loop"…<br />Big ideas, oddly conveyed…<br />(fiction within fiction)<br />Metaphorically disjointed…<br />Symbolically peculiar…<br />Translation issues?<br />Cultural confusion?<br />I continue to delve!Dan/pepsoidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15694994268053738614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21909718.post-15123528381422324082008-11-18T12:50:00.001+00:002008-11-18T12:50:44.699+00:0099. Games… games… games… (17 Nov 08)<p align="justify">They sit on my shelf.<br />They largely remain unplayed, except (mainly) for one…<br /><em>Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3</em><br />- a weird (but oddly addictive) Japanese RPG.<br />The rolling demo distracts my baby daughter while I'm changing her…<br />Sometimes she lolls on my lap, caressing the controller…<br />That's my girl! :)</p>Dan/pepsoidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15694994268053738614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21909718.post-87042168841811342882008-11-18T12:47:00.002+00:002008-11-18T12:49:45.250+00:0098. Happydad! (17 Nov 08)<div align="justify">I've not written a 50-worder since becoming a dad.<br />So here is my first.<br />What shall I write about?<br />The changing of nappies?<br />The never sleeping more than 5 hours at a stretch? (usually no more than 3!)<br />Or the indescribable beauty of my daughter Talise's smile?<br />The latter! :)</div>Dan/pepsoidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15694994268053738614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21909718.post-28668000550712069112008-06-18T18:55:00.001+00:002008-06-18T18:55:27.163+00:0097. Gumption (18 Jun 08)<p align="justify">Have some "common sense"!<br />Have some "courage to act"!<br />But hang on…<br />Are these not quite different things?<br />Related perhaps, but one certainly does not imply the other.<br />So what, in essence, is "gumption"?<br />Have some "guts"!<br />Have some "spunk"!<br />Have some "boldness of enterprise" or "initiative" or "aggressiveness"!<br />Hmm...</p>Dan/pepsoidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15694994268053738614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21909718.post-14334796286691013532008-06-18T18:54:00.001+00:002008-06-18T18:54:45.033+00:0096. The Hue of Sauce (18 Jun 08)<p align="justify">Imagine… if ketchup was green… if mint sauce was red… if mayonnaise was blue… how confusing it would be!<br />Or…<br />Would it?<br />How quickly would we acclimatise to sauces of unexpected hues? To the point where they were not unexpected? To the point where they were… in fact… expected?<br />Hmm…</p>Dan/pepsoidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15694994268053738614noreply@blogger.com0