Month: January 2004

Whether you’re a frequent offender or an indignant innocent bystander, this list from the ‘Lake Superior State University Word Banishment selection committee’ is essential reading: the
Banished Words List for 2004 lists all the words which you’re entitled to slap people for using.

…and ending the run of affordable, educational holiday experiences, we today found ourselves at the cinemas wearing silly glasses to see Spy Kids 3D (Game Over).
It could well have turned out to be the least memorable kids film I’ve ever seen, were it not for the gimmick of the 3D effects, which were surprisingly well done. Man, it messes with your eyes, though. There were some amazing action sequences which would have been more impressive if I hadn’t been spoiled by the Matrix Reloaded in IMAX a few months back. Still, the whole thing was set in a video game, so I’m not going to complain too loudly, lest I become old and boring before my time.
Great eye candy, but I can’t remember what the point of the whole thing was. Oh, yeah. School holiday entertainment. Apparently, according to the experts, mission accomplished.

I don’t know how long it’s been since I set foot in a public library. It must be a fair while ago, because I found myself struggling with the whole concept of ‘free knowledge’ today. I’ve become so used to handing money to anyone behind a counter that I spent the first few minutes of today’s visit feeling slightly guilty for taking advantage of the facilities. Free Internet Access? You mean I can just read stuff without buying it?
Then I thought back to my most recent council rates notice, pulled up a chair and started drinking deep with a crystal clear concience.
Yes, yet again, another educational experience for the kids on the holidays. And again, more entertainment value in a couple of hours among the shelves than a whole day at Timezone. Spearwood Public Library had put on a ‘Dragon Quest’ today, where the kids completed scavenger hunts for information throughout the library, and won a prize at the end for completing the secret phrase. (I like the thinking behind one of the prizes in the pack – a blank exercise book, so you could write your own…)
Any other ideas for guilt-free, cost-free, fun kids outings?

One of the great advantages of a job which involves telecommuting is the huge lunch-hours you get to spend with the family. Today was one of those days I wouldn’t have swapped for anything.
Ainslie suggested I take the kids for a trip to the museum for a school holiday trip, and I’m glad I did. It was such a treat to see the kids, who’d been huddled over a PlayStation for a good part of the morning, leaping from stuffed Elk to dinosaur bone with barely contained glee. I only half-heartedly berated them for their volume – why would you want to snuff out that sort of thirst for knowledge? One of the staff watching from the corner seemed quietly pleased as each of them called me over to each new exhibit as quiet-loudly as they could (good thing I’m still young enough to know everything).
After we’d seen everything and done a few activities, we emerged only a few dollars lighter, and significantly richer for the experience.
It’s not a slow time at work at the moment, and I’ll be catching up on some of the time lost for the next day or so, but when the kids took time out (between belting out Guy Sebastian songs in the car on the way home) to say a heartfelt thanks for the outing, I knew that I’d made the right investment today.

Being a brand new year, I thought I’d share some baby photos, from the earlier days of BONWAG. Here’s how BONWAG got to look the way it did.