Monday, November 10th, 2008
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3:53 pm
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/7719540.stm
I can't say I know anything about Gary Glitter's music, but surely having one of his songs as recommended listening on an exam can hardly be that bad unless the song is about sex with children and even then I could see the reason for it. I don't quite get why they assume that every right minded person would be against this - yes Gary Glitter is a paedophile and has been tried and convicted and should be kept away from children/teenagers forever and ever, but how does that effect the music he produced? Why is it suddenly tainted as not fit for human consumption? I'm sure there have been plenty of heinous musicians before that we still listen to (britney spears absolutely terrified her own kids by locking them in with her to the point where the police had to get involved and yet she's winning awards - pretty tame example, but you get the idea). Even if Gary Glitter's proclivities do effect how we look at his music, isn't that something that should be discussed/taught? In psychology and medicine (and RE obviously) you still research and discuss the work of some horrific experiments done on animals and people - the fact that it wouldn't be allowed now, doesn't mean that we should ignore the knowledge. Geiger came up with the Geiger counter by exposing people in concentration camps to radiation, but we still use his machine (except PC people call it a "radiation detector" and try and pretend that it's origins aren't evil).
I guess what I'm saying is a person's character doesn't negate the validity of what they produce. If Gary Glitter's song have musical merit (I can't imagine it, but then why else would they have been on the exam in the first place?) they should be judged on that - not the fact that he's a convicted criminal.
Though I don't know where I stand on him making money from that.........
/rambling rant thing
current mood:  thoughtful
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(2 comments | comment on this)
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Friday, October 31st, 2008
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11:09 am - business people say the strangest things
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“as popular as a sausage in a synagogue”
un-PC and insulting or just a colourful phrase: discuss...
current mood:  indecisive
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(5 comments | comment on this)
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Monday, October 6th, 2008
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1:16 pm - mini culture squee
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My inner culture geek loves this: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7651105.stm.
I can't wait till it's available to have a look at - I'd love to compare it with some of the heretical stuff (I'm a fan of the Gospel of Thomas) and see how it comes off. There's a great text at the moment that compares various different translations with some of the heretical stuff - it would be great if they added this stuff in as well.
oo...how much would I love to just take a big highlighter and underline every bit that contradicts St Augustine (you know there's gonna be loads^^).
/geek squee
current mood:  geeky
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(3 comments | comment on this)
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Thursday, September 25th, 2008
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5:16 pm - The Controversial Survey
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[01] Do you have the guts to answer these questions and re-post as The Controversial Survey?
Sounds intrguing....
[02] Would you do meth if it was legal?
No. Frankly my hold on my mental state if tenuous enough without adding party drugs into the mix.
[03] Abortion: for or against it?
For, but only in a hypocritical way. I think Sarah Palin-type views that all abortion for whatever reason is wrong is horrific. There are times and places (yes rape victims, but other less extreme circumstances too) where aborting is appropriate. I do have problems with the current week limit (I think it's about 24) because there have been cases of babies being born before that who have survived (with heroic measures) however as medical science improves I guess you might have it so you barely need a real womb at all and that's where the morally fuzzy area comes in.
I mentioned hypocritical. I don't think I could abort if I found out I was pregnant. It think it would scar me for life.
[04] Do you think the world would fail with a female president?
You mean it's not failing now? Politicians are politicians - male or female makes no difference - they're all inherently crap.
Also interesting to note that whoever wrote this survey assumes that the world can't exist without america...there would be some people who'd disagree...
[05] Do you believe in the death penalty?
In theory yes, in practice no. I think there are some crimes which deserve death, however our legal system is less than perfect and always will be and there's no making it up to the dead guy once you realised you killed him by mistake.
[06] Do you wish marijuana would be legalized already?
yes, if only to get over the stupid umming and ahhing. I've seen the harmful effects it can have, but I've also known alcoholics etc etc and pot really isn't so bad.
[07] Are you for or against premarital sex?
For, but mostly cos I don't get the point of marriage (apart from the legal side obviously). The communal/religious aspects pass me by...
[08] Do you believe in God?
Define God and I'll answer. If you meant the typical Christian God then no. That doesn't mean I don't agree with what some of christianity has to say, but God specifically? no.
[09] Do you think same sex marriage should be legalized?
With civil partnerships I think it is. So it's not called marriage - why does that matter? Again the religious connotations pass me by cos I don't get the importance of marriage...actually I don't get what the difference is who you happen to find attractive either (I literally don't understand why people get so passionate (excuse the pun) about the subject).
[10] Do you think it's wrong that so many immigrants are coming to the UK?
Not at all. I think people forget that the UK has always been a place of refugees and immigrants - I think we'd be losing a big part of our heritage if we stopped that.
[11] A twelve year old girl has a baby, should she keep it?
Why shouldn't she? I guess if she doesn't have any family/social service type support then it could all go horribly wrong, but as long as she has that I think it's important she does keep it.
[12] Should the alcohol age be lowered to eighteen?
It is 18.
[13] Should the war in Iraq be called off?
I don't know enough about the current climate in iraq to say. I did protest on many occasions to try and stop it from happening in the first place, but have since grown disillusioned and apathetic.
[14] Assisted suicide is illegal: do you agree?
No. Anyone who has read my sisters posts will know that our gran died earlier this year from vascular dementia. She was suffering from it (to the point where she was incapable of a normal life) for quite a few years. During that time she suffered a lot in ways I don't want to go into here. I have also known someone who has been depressed (to the point of trying to kill himself on a regular basis) for 16 of his 28 years. Yes I think assisted suicide should be legalised.
[15] Do you believe in spanking your children?
As I don't have kids I don't feel qualified to say definitively, but I get the impression it's not really necessary if you're a consistent parent...
[16] Would you burn an American flag for a million dollars?
Hell yeah! I'd burn pretty much any inanimate object for a million dollars (though pounds would be better and not, like buildings or anything). A flag is a piece of cloth - they make thousands of them. The symbol nor the values it represents to americas can be damaged by having one flag burned.
[17] Who do you think would make a better president? McCain or Obama?
Obama. Though this is based mostly on the fact that I think Sarah Palin should be locked up somewhere far far away where she can't hurt herself or others. The fact that McCain thought she was a good choice therefore means he must be a complete idiot.
[18] Are you afraid others will judge you from reading some of your answers?
Not especially. Mostly because no one reads my blog, but also because they're just opinions - anyone who wants to question them I'd love to discuss it^^
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(7 comments | comment on this)
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Tuesday, August 12th, 2008
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9:02 pm - plot bunnies ate my soul
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Had a weird dream last night. Was thinking about it on the way home from work today and it suddenly clicked that it would make a fantastic story.
2819 words later I think I need to put the computer down...
current mood:  creative
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(1 comment | comment on this)
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Wednesday, April 9th, 2008
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1:30 pm - I am an idiot - part 732 of fifty bajillion
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I ordered a thing from amazon...forgot to check the address it was going to...it ended up at my old work in wiltshire... *headdesk*
In other news I may be starting salsa soon with Tom - sounds like fun:)
In other other news my best friends from primary school and senior school have both found me on facebook in the last two days, which brings me to the conclusion that facebook kicks ass. They're both doing well (for those who know/care Katie is a biology teacher and Claire is married with 3 kids) and I only feel moderately worthless that I have to reply saying I'm depressingly single and temping as a random admin bod. I could add that I live in a cupboard, but I really enjoy that! Actually it's going to be really hard to live on my own again *so lonely*.
current mood:  it's complicated
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(comment on this)
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Thursday, March 6th, 2008
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4:02 pm - problems with the bbc...
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Lately I've really noticed how poorly written/proof-read a lot of the news is on the bbc website. Some bits are worse than others e.g.:
"The court was told he [guilty guy] met Mrs Samuels in the summer of 2005 - a year after she broke up with the father of her children's father."
O___O;;
current mood:  head pain
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(1 comment | comment on this)
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Monday, March 3rd, 2008
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11:39 am - a day of contradictions
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and it's only 11:40
So I had a message waiting for me on my phone this morning (the battery died over the weekend) and it's mum saying I have post from SOAS (the people who run the JLPT). I ring 'em back and it turns out I've passed!! *w00ts!*
In work and the boredom starts. Mum very kindly agrees to order the japanese versions of yotsuba for me from amazon.co.jp (international sites don't take debit cards) and I settle down to try and find things to do for the day to stop myself going crazy one of which is emailing CUP about the job I applied for: turns out I didn't get an interview...
what do these people want from me?? I outlined exactly how I met all of their criteria on the application form and didn't even get an interview...glad I've got the temp possibilities to fall back on.
I also got a message from Tom over the weekend which I need to reply to...yeah, not so sure I know what I'm going to do about that yet. The thing is I'd really like to check out some bars and stuff in cambridge (I have no idea where any are even...), and as Tom has lived here forever in a way it makes sense for me to ask him to show me around...yeah in a way, but I'm not sure that's enough...
So to recap: good, not so good, manga and awkwardness all in one morning...
PS now 11:50
PPS ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) wikiviccan you keep an ear out for amazon like post tomorrow (I ordered stuff from uk amazon too)
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(3 comments | comment on this)
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Wednesday, January 30th, 2008
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10:26 am
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I've just found out I'm not being replaced in my job - makes me feel wanted.
I feel bad for becky (she's probably going to have to pick up a lot of my stuff) but I'm going to laugh so hard if the department just goes horribly wrong once I'm gone. Though it would be terrifying if I went and they actually managed perfectly well without me.
current mood:  cranky
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(comment on this)
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8:55 am - *yaaaaawwwwn....*
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so very tired....5am this morning the cats had a screaming fight with the black tom that sometimes nicks their food and chased him out so violently one of them (don't know whether it was ours or the black tom, but ours are fine) smacked into my door cos they couldn't turn the corner fast enough to get out the catflap. About an hour later I managed to fall asleep again. About an hour after that my alarm went off.
*zzzz...*
current mood:  tired
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(4 comments | comment on this)
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Friday, January 18th, 2008
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10:46 am - Warning: fangirl squee
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OMG james masters is in torchwood!!!!! OMGOMGOMG! He's being all gorgeous and slightly evil and more than a bit gay (snogging john barrowman OMG!) and this just screams big slashy crossovers of the third kind!! It actually makes the rest of torchwood almost worth it (oh the shit acting and the shit shit plotlines - how can those writers sleep at night???) and he so outshines all of the cast, though he is surprisingly short, but OMG!!!
/squee
current mood:  squee!
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(2 comments | comment on this)
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Tuesday, January 15th, 2008
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4:15 pm - doritos make my nose itch...
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I think artificial colours and/or flavours and/or preservatives make the tip pf my nose itchy. whatever they are they're in tangy cheese doritos *rubs at end of nose furiously!*
current mood:  working
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(comment on this)
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Wednesday, January 9th, 2008
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1:37 pm - warning: biohazard
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People at work are dropping like flies! There are two bugs going round - a nasty flu and an evil stomach bug. One poor lady has managed to get both! In our small corner of the office there are 12 ppl. Today *6* of them are off sick!! I feel a very great need to chug vitamin c and echinacea until it comes out of my ears o_O;;;
Not much else going on though I did order the groovy Nostromo hoodie from this place yesterday. Vic first pimped it on her journal and now I do the same *pimps*. I also ordered a whole load of stuff from amazon!...then realised it's going to take about three weeks to get here cos I said to group it all together...poo...
current mood:  the germs!
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(1 comment | comment on this)
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Monday, January 7th, 2008
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1:48 pm
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today's quite a good day really^^ I still have virtually nothing to do at work, but everyone's back so I at least have people to talk to. It's kind of exciting too working out stuff to do before I go and coming up with things that I won't be around for:P My official leaving date is the 8th Feb - only a month to go! Everyone's been saying some really nice things (and I'm secretly hopeful for a collection/leaving present that's going to kick ass:P).
Also making today a good day is my new suitish thing - suitish because it's trousers and waistcoat rather than trousers and blazer. I bought the entire outfit on saturday at Next - black varied pinstripe trousers and waistcoat (with a really neat purple satin back to the waistcoat), blue and white striped shirt (it's long sleeved but I roll them up), black shoes (a little heel, quite plain with a thin strap and buckle), socks and everything! It's going to be my first day clothes when I'm temping, but I'm wearing it today cos it makes me feel all spiffy^^
All this and I still have quite a bit of money left this month! So before I remember what I was supposed to be doing with it it's time for an amazon order:P The question is this - witch hunter robin (£17 for entire series), bleach (£13 half series) or FMA (£17 half series)? I'm thinking probably Witch Hunter robin and not just cos you get more for your money:P I'm going to get the first dvd of kurau phantom memory too cos I read a review on ANN made it look really cool - anyone seen it? Any good?
current mood:  spiffy
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(8 comments | comment on this)
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Thursday, January 3rd, 2008
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11:17 am - *tumbleweed*...
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so quiet...there's only me and nigel in the office and I never talk to nigel unless I absolutely can't help it (it's made easier given that we're sat at opposite ends of the room). Jeroen was here, but he just buggered off home - his entire team is on leave so I guess he can get away with it (I'm being unfair, but it's only cos I'm unbelievably jealous). I have no work really, no managers calling me (I don't even know whether they're working or not) and no one to talk to...oo! actually I do have some work to do this afternoon - I get to cut and paste three word documents into one document and format it...joy...should take me all of about 10 mins...
I posted my notice to Paul yesterday though - I'm on my way out! I've said I'll discuss my leaving date with him as I was supposed to be leaving on 2nd Feb, but I know they want me to help putting bids together from 31st Jan to 5th Feb. Still I should finish by the end ofthat week at the absolute latest and they are going to have to pay me extra if they want me to stay on to do bid work of all things. So now I'm just waiting for Paul to call/email me...*impatient!*
current mood:  bored
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(1 comment | comment on this)
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Tuesday, January 1st, 2008
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9:27 am - 2008 - a good year
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I don't normally do new years resolutions, but this year I have a few.
1. Enter all the writing contests in the Writers Handbook that I'm eligible for
2. Finish editing my nano 07 novel
3. start sending said novel to publishers/agents
4. do some form of proper exercise at least once a week
There's also a load of things that are going to happen this year which I'm really looking forward to. Tomorrow I'm handing in my notice at my job! I'm going to stay with wikivic and banemoo for a while and temp in cambridge - hopefully leading to, if not a permanent job, then at least enough temp work to sustain me on my own. I'm also planning on trying to keep in touch with my friends better (I'm notoriously bad for not keeping in touch) and visiting them more and stuff. I'm also planning on doing nanowrimo again (this time maybe with dad and banemoo joining me!) and giving up chocolate for lent again (it was a struggle last time, but probably very good for me!).
So that's my plans for the year! *determination joy*
current mood:  excited
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(1 comment | comment on this)
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Thursday, December 20th, 2007
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10:38 am - so.very.cold...*brrr!*
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the office is freezing today! I bought a new scarf yesterday (£5 from M&S, perfectly matches my gloves and is all soft and snuggly^^) but I think I'd feel a bit stupid wearing it round the office...
In other news people keep giving me great stuff! Ahh the holidays in the marketing department *glows with festive greed*
In other much sadder news our cat is in the vet hospital. Her kidneys are bad and she may not survive. She's not a very old cat really, but she's had a lot of problems ever since she ate a bird with this weird disease a few years ago. It's destroyed her sense of balance making her very uncertain on her feet and meaning she can't stand up to the other cats like she used to. It also meant she couldn't have any more kittens and is probably responsible for kicking off the allergies that mean she can't have any treats and is always sneezing and trying to pull her fur out. She stopped eating a couple of days ago and mum took her to the vet, but it's looking like everything has just got a bit too much for her system. There's a chance she'll pull through and be pretty much fine, but we won't know for a couple of days....*hopes and hopes and hopes*
current mood:  good + bad broke my brain
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Tuesday, December 11th, 2007
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11:00 am - owari
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I'm done - the first draft suddenly finished itself last night after not really much writing at all. It's really short for a novel (reeeally short) but I know's there's loads I need to add in on the rewrite/next draft so I'm worried that it'll be too short in the end (well, not too worried).
Now I'm going to try and let it sit for two whole weeks without fiddling with it....*sits on hands*
Luckily I have the writers handbook for 2008 so there should be plenty of comps to enter. I'm planning to write masses this coming year and enter everything I can - except one. I hadn't realised the comp I wanted to enter with a cool story about clones is run by scientologists. Despite the fact that it sounds like a really good comp I can't enter it - just too morally outraged/sickened. I'm sure I'll be able to use that story for something else though.
so...back to the boredom then. I can't believe I left the handbook at home *headdesk*
current mood: bored
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(1 comment | comment on this)
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Monday, December 10th, 2007
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3:25 pm - *boredom*
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so. very. bored. So bored. Boooooorrred!!!
I have nothing to do at the moment. Seriously. I long for the post every morning because it keeps me busy for 10/15 mins. I'm volunteering to drive to Trowbridge to deliver some stuff this afternoon cos there's nothing better going on. Without the STAR awards things have kind of ground to a halt for me...unfortunately though my line manager wants to see me for a 121 tomorrow and I know the first thing he's going to ask is about what I'm doing at the mo. Glad I know how to bullshit with the best of them. I also get the joy of doing his filing for him as he has 1178 items in his inbox at the mo - 574 of which are marked as unread and going back to june 06. Ah well, at least it'll give me something to do. I've tried writing my story at work, but I just feel too guilty not working quite so blatantly. I might bring my writers handbook in though and look up some of the comps I want to enter this year - it's a bit more subtle googling stuff than having pages of dialogue up on screen.
In story news I should have the first draft finished by the end of next weekend. Though that's mostly because it's fallen a bit short. I've been reading a lot about techniques for editing though so hopefully by the time I'm done with it it'll be worthy to start sending out to publishers/agents. I harbour no illusions that it'll get picked up by anyone, but it would be nice to see what feedback they could give me.
current mood: bored
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(1 comment | comment on this)
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Wednesday, December 5th, 2007
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1:18 pm - huh?
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what is the point of veggie sushi? Should you really be allowed to call it sushi? girl who sits opposite me at work has it quite often in packs from the supermarket - I say I hate sushi and she says she loves it, but without the whole *raw fish* element can you really say you love sushi??
current mood: confused
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(2 comments | comment on this)
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