First recorded by Prince, in 1980, it seems this track has been covered by a fairly large number of people.

The version I remember best is from Cyndi Lauper’s “Shes so unusual” album. As a female singer, you’d expect her to change the pronouns throughout, but she didnt, leading to a fairly clear implication of a breakup with another woman (though it’s got to be said, Prince is pushing things with lines like “I used to let you wear all my clothes” and then later on, “When he was there / Sleeping inbetween the two of us“).

Other artists folowed and I found myself caught by a version by Tegan and Sara (that sounds like the Prince version but includes
Cyndi’s gender-bending lyrics.)

(and before you ask, no, I am not breaking up with anyone!)

Another suggested podcast was “Uncomfortable Questions” – fascinating interview format which gives an insight into a whole variety of people’s believes / philosophy. My only complaints are (a) she pod-faded back in 2008, (b) the host has probably the third worst/most annoying voice I’ve ever listened to (coming in behind Captain Janeway of Star Trek Voyager at #1 and radio ads for Ray Vinsen’s mortgage company at #2). Sadly the sample set for the podcast gives the content a somewhat skewed and unbalanced leaning toward a particular world-view, as the host acknowledges at one point. Still, a fascinating insight into a particular segment of society and what they believe!

March 20

 - Knowing (Nick Cage)

 - Duplicity (Julia Roberts & Clive Owen)

March 27

 - Monsters vs. Aliens (Pixar)

April 3

 - Fast & Furious (Vin Diesel / Paul Walker / Michelle Rodriguez)

April 17

 - State of Play (Russel Crowe)

 - Crank: High Voltage (Jason Statham)

April 24

 - Obsessed (Ali Larter)

 - Mutant Chronicles (Thomas Jane / Ron Perlman / John Malkovich / Devon Aoki)

May 1

 - X-Men Origins: Wolverine

May 8

 - Star Trek

May 22

 - Terminator: Salvation

June 12

 - The Taking of Pelham 123

June 26

 - Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

July 3

 - Public Enemies

 - Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs

July 17

 - Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Aug 7

 - G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra

August 21

 - Inglourious Basterds

Some couples really do live happily ever after

By Matthew Moore, 16 Dec 2008

The study found that couples married for more than 20 years showed similar brain activity to lovers in the throes of a new relationship, when shown pictures of their partners.

The photos stimulated the area of the brain associated with euphoria and addiction in both mature couples and young lovers.

People in long-term relationships also showed higher levels of activity in a part of the brain associated with calmness, suggesting that their passions had become more serene over the years.

Those in love for shorter periods had higher activity in a region associated with obsession and anxiety.

The study, carried out by anthropologist Helen Fisher, of Rutgers University in New Jersey, United States, used MRI scans to compare the brain activity of 17 married people aged between 40 and 65 who had been married for at least two decades, with those of a group of younger people who had been in relationships for less than six months.

“We now have physiological evidence that romantic love can last,” Prof Fisher said. “It now appears from this study that romantic love exists not only to initiate pair-bonding but to maintain and enhance long-term relationships.”

Discussing the slightly different brain patterns of the older couples, she said: “The difference is that in long-term love, the obsession, the mania and anxiety has been replaced with calm.”

Aston Martin DB5

Aston Martin v8 Vantage Volante

Aston Martin Vanquish

Aston Martin DBS v12

What can I say? I have expensive taste! (Note: if I get the time I’ll research the actual cost of these cars and edit the post…)

Make everything as simple as possible, but not simpler.

— Albert Einstein

Apply it early and apply it often.

From the YouTube description:

On November 11, 1999 Terry Kelly was in a Shoppers Drug Mart store in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. At 10:55 AM an announcement came over the store’s PA asking customers who would still be on the premises at 11:00 AM to give two minutes of silence in respect to the veterans who have sacrificed so much for us.

Terry was impressed with the store’s leadership role in adopting the Legion’s “two minutes of silence” initiative. He felt that the store’s contribution of educating the public to the importance of remembering was commendable.

When eleven o’clock arrived on that day, an announcement was again made asking for the “two minutes of silence” to commence. All customers, with the exception of a man who was accompanied by his young child, showed their respect.

Terry’s anger towards the father for trying to engage the store’s clerk in conversation and for setting a bad example for his child was later channeled into a beautiful piece of work called, “A Pittance of Time”. Terry later recorded “A Pittance of Time” and included it on his full-length music CD, “The Power of the Dream”.