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It's time for spring cleaning. Look forth to squeecakes...

So, spring is here, and it was a beautiful day and I was cheerful.

However, in my grand tradition of getting sick when everyone else is over it, I had a temperature at work today and my brain was all icky. I nearly cut myself with my incredibly crap scissors 3 or 4 times (my hands were shaking). My supervisor was away again today (yay!). I also got talked into doing the minutes for Wednesday's meeting, which I have no idea how to do but they'll show me so it's alright.

I got thinking about how, if it is a flu, it is probably an uberflu since my body has spent all winter fighting off the little flus, so if this one makes me sick it'll probably already be resistant to all the antibodies which killed the other flus.

I suppose if I've got to go, I want to take everyone else down with me (not really, but I think that inadvertantly breeding a super-virus and causing a biological disaster would make an interesting novel).

Also, I just rewatched "The Crackpots and These Women" which is one of my favourite WW episodes ever. Josh is so sweet, and I love that his first thought is for his staff (Donna!)

I just have to keep telling myself that he's better then Howard.

But mandatory reporting of grades? Ranking schools against one another? (Are they going to do exit polls?!)

Seriously though, all I can see this doing is increasing elitist attitudes and competition between schools (particularly across the public/private divide), and putting more pressure on students to perform.

Rudd means well, wanting to make student's grades better across the board, but forcing them to compete with one another is not the answer. I can see youth suicides increasing, as well as competition for university places being even more fierce.

Ultimately, I think it will lead to a broader divide between the academic class and the unqualified people. The government will probably be able to check your grades when you apply for a job with them, so all the hard work you've done to make up for what you didn't do in school shows up. And where you went to school will reflect on you in a way that it never did before. Is this what we want for our children?

I personally don't want them to have to compete with kids from "better" schools for spots at uni if those kids are going to get looked upon better. On the flip side, I don't think that kids who don't perform to the same standard as their peers in "good" schools should suffer for it.

It seems like Rudd has discarded the fact that people have different, non-academic talents and taken academic performance as the measure of our country's worth. Yes, the school system can always be improved, but this seems a pretty non-sensical way to go about it. And I think that in a lot of places it is a lot worse.

I'd prefer that they fix the mental health system, promote TAFE education and adult learning, fund cultural institutions and give teenagers a hiding rather than document and rank the grades of every school and student in the country.

But hey, it doesn't matter what I think. I just voted for him.

Click to see me modelling for Allyeska (Work Safe)

The hairdresser was fab, given I have frizzy half-perm on the bottom half of my hair, and my fringe is overly long. And I have this urge to go out and buy a retractable lip brush.

I had a dream with Allison Janney in it last night. Now, for some bizarre reason, I want to slash her with Glenda Chittock (one of my Harry Potter characters whose PB is Kate Walsh).

Oh yes, I has CJ lust.

I need a new PC, because apparently my graphics card isn't good enough to run SimCity Societies. I would be less pissed off by this if I didn't spend an extra hour downloading a 200mb patch so I could make it run enough to tell me my graphics card wasn't good enough.

I've decided I want to build a machine (translation: get someone to build me a machine). So far, I've got the following in mind:

* Intel quad core (at least 2.4Ghz, probably more like 2.8)
* nVidia GeForce 8800GT/9600GT (both of these look great, I'm just undecided which one I want)
* At least 500GB HDD (Ideally 1TB)
* Dvd-r/rw drive (no bluray necessary)
* 2 or 3gb RAM

I haven't got much idea about cooling etc, I just know what I want it to do. I'm actually pretty proud of this box - next month it would have been with me for 5 years. I think my dad paid about $1700 for it then (which after working at the dick sounds ludicrous!) but it's a pentium 4 with a 2.6Ghz processor. Off the shelf it had only 256mb of ram, but I stuck in another 256 a few years ago. Anyway, it has been good to me. I'm not quite ready to say goodbye yet, but I need something to game on.

Anyway, anyone who can recommend good parts sites/help me build a monster would be much appreciated. I know that I can't just buy any bits and expect them to work together, so I need the help of my tech-savvier friends :)

Also, why do I always get the "gay bear dating" ads on my profile? It's really offputting!

Usually I don't cross-post my .mac blog entries on here, but this one was long and kind of important (to me at least) so I figured I'd link you over there. The reason I didn't just copy the text is that the .mac site has a picture of my new hair - and it's kind of relevant to a very small part of the entry.

http://web.mac.com/wmkruger/Site/The_Soapbox/Entries/2008/5/30_Changing_Woman.html

There's no comments over on the blog though, so if you want to comment, do it here.

*hugs you all*

Also, Canberra people/gamers, this weekend we're doing 30% off all our gaming software (including wiifit!!), 10% off ALL our computers (including Macs), and 15% off all the flat panel TVs (but if you want a CRT at 15% off, we'll do that anyway). Um, that's Dick Smith Powerhouse in the Canberra Centre (next door to Aldi) in case you don't know.

You know, it occurs to me I'm rather strange. I'm cleaning my nipple piercings while listening to The Seekers, drinking beer, and downloading grey's anatomy.

The last two eps of House were sheer brilliance. This season has been amazing.

Australian people, prepare to be blown away.

Lisa Edelstein rocks. Seriously.

http://www.buddytv.com/articles/house/house-star-doesnt-want-to-be-a-14152.aspx

Just wanted to apologize to you all for my glaring absence over the last week: I've been setting up my room and also the internet at our house is rather slow (and cuts in and out to boot).

I won't be on much at all this week, owing to the craziness (working 6 days, plus it's my birthday tomorrow so I'm socializing like mad outside of work!)

Glen was a dear today and helped me bring my shiny new PS2 home (I got to show him my vaguely messy stinky room).

Work tomorrow, and birthday, and staff meeting, and dessert at my mother's house.

I have wednesday off, but I'm lunching with my mother then going dancing.

Thursday is work then drinks

Friday is sleep in then work

Saturday is work then xmas party.

Sunday is also work

I'm a busy girl. But I have shiny macbook. I don't think bluetoothing things between my phone and my computer is ever going to get old (well not anytime soon, anyway.

Speaking of the macbook, it is yet unnamed. Craig suggested: McBook (I said too Grey's Anatomy meets firefly), MacDreamy (awesome name, if you like that sort of thing).

Laura and I decided that if the writer's strike goes on for a while, we could take up the reigns. She made the highly valid point that it'd turn House into a Huddy-fest, but we don't see anything wrong with that...

 I am currently sitting on a beanbag in my new room in Aranda. Most of my stuff fits; the rest will be resolved once I have a desk.

I got most of my stuff unpacked by 4pm and then I went and had dinner at the uberhouse. Fun times! We're going to have dinner the night after my birthday (on the 13th I have to go to a customer service meeting after work).

Tomorrow I'm going to stay home from church - too much to do. I want to clean a bit and get settled even though I have monday off. I should probably do some washing too.

For anyone who tries to call me, I paid my phone bill a bit late so I can't message anyone, sorry.

Has anyone ever had groceries missing when they shop at jamison coles? I bought a little jar of pesto there today (it was a $4 jar!) and it just wasn't with my shopping. It was sundried tomato, cashew & chilli flavoured too!

I should probably go straight to bed, but I think I'll play WoW for a bit - If only because WoW on a beanbag is awesome!

We're probably going to be getting ADSL 2 in the next month or so, which will be awesomeness.

My paid account will be expiring in a few weeks, but since I don't use LJ much anymore I'm not going to bother renewing it until I do (have to pay off my GE).

Lots of love,
Winnie

P.S. Laura hon, I've been on aim a bit and looked out for you, but I havent' seen you on. I'll try and hang out on there a bit more this week since it's my short week. XXXX

Had a big night last night - lots of alcohol. Also a big week last week. I flirted massively with Glen & Aaryn to soothe my poor longing for the one I can't have.

I ended up spending more money today fixing what happened last night then I did on alcohol.

EC: $49.95
Shoes for dancing (I didn't go home) - $15
Top - $15
Clean undies (3 pack) - $10

Then there were the expected expenses:
Argentine Tango - $110
Food - LOTS

And the pleasant, unexpected expenses:
Tina Arena, 2nd January, Stall Seats, Row R - $115

And the one I need the credit card for:
Hotel room, Menzies Sydney, for one night - $180 (inc breakfast)

My sister is even planning on going up for a concert on the same night, so I should be set!

Now, bed and reading (and to get the time off).

I'm convinced Chas has been watching too much House, what with the lugging the cane around and telling people he was disabled, and the "names of the week" being the cast members of House.

There's so much love there, seriously.

Still missing my TV, but this weekend will be a massive catch up session. Will have to wait until Friday to watch Summer Heights High, as my aunt is watching prison break.

And, owing to the Aussie networks airing House early, NO ONE is allowed to talk to me about it until I've watched what I've missed. 

The nights aren't as warm here as in Cairns, but the heat makes sleeping harder. I'm sharing a bed with my mum and last night was spent tossing and turning.

I bought some good tarot books today which were on sale for like a quarter of the RRP. Also a faux-marquisite watch, and some nice earrings (including a pair exactly the same as some ones I lost, and some handcuff earrings!)

I was considering buying myself a bottle of Midnight Fantasy, as they were selling it for $49 (minus the box and lid). I really love that perfume, but my grandmother gave me a giant flask of Red Door when I arrived in Cairns, and I actually like it better then the Samsara I have, so I passed on the other one. My only concern is that by the time I use all of the Red Door, Midnight Fantasy won't be being produced anymore (it's one of the Britney Spears ones, and we can all see where here career is going - although it's really nice and they might continue selling ti anyway). I also love Paris by YSL, which my aunt wears. My mum wears YSL Opium, but that's too rich for me. I decided I'm a real fan of YSL Cinema (it evokes a bit of a vintage feel). I tried on this feathered headband today - I swear I'm loving the retro more everyday and being more confident of making it work.

There was also this fab lingerie store, the likes of which I have NEVER seen in Canberra. I would need to lose a dress & cup size to fit anything, but I would be motivated to if we had that shop in Canberra!

Anyway, just wanted to fangirl over the Chaser some more. And Lisa E. *swoon*.

Made it safely to Queensland with my shiny new iPod 80gb classic (it's silver).

A bit melancholy; miss a certain someone from work but I'll get over it. Hopefully will have someone to snuggle with when I get home.

Had a siesta this afternoon; it felt fantastic. Loving my new iPod. Margie has been cooking some awesome food - I will have put on another dress size by the time I get home if I don't start swimming - great food though!

I'm well taken care of though; I think we'll go and visit my grandmother's grave tomorrow and also get some things in town.

Winnie