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Deep Pencil - the musings of Morgan Bell

If a tree falls in the woods and nobody is there to hear it did it really make a sound? If i post a blog and nobody reads it was there really any point? You have entered the random thinking space of Morgan Bell . . . These are my musings . . . things about my life written off the top of my head . . . written in an informal disjointed style almost completely devoid of punctuation, this is where i flesh out writing ideas, discuss my life, and generally be self indulgent . . . it is also the bargain bin for articles which do not fit in with the film or arts themes of my other blogs . . . so have a wander around my mind, have a laugh, have a think, be nice, and humour me!

Trivia - Deep Pencil

Word of the Day: Fisking

September 21st 2009 14:48

Fisking

noun

1. Point-by-point criticism that highlights perceived errors, or disputes the analysis in a statement, article, or essay.
2. Line-by-line nitpick.
3. Written rebuttal, formatted as chronological quotes from the original post each followed by comments that refute or dispute. Comments may contain derision, savagery and scorn.
4. Witty, logical, sarcastic, and ruthlessly factual, point-by-point refutation of a blog entry or news story.

etymology

Named after British journalist Robert Fisk, writer for Ireland's The Sunday Independent.

Robert Fisk was "fisked" by conservative blogger Andrew Sullivan in 2001.

CLICKHERE for the first "fisked" article by Robert Fisk.

CLICKHERE for the first "fisking" by Andrew Sullivan.

A "Fist Bump"; not to be confused with "Fisking"

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Posted By: Morgan Bell - Category: Trivia, Writing

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Sugar Sweet Refreshment

July 17th 2009 07:30

Forget the alco-pops and liqueurs, the schnapps and the sherry.

If you want a sweet grown-ups drink head straight for Banrock Station in the bottled wine ailse. Yes I said "bottled" to distinguish between that and the wine sold in the box . . . the dreaded casky . . . of which I am also quite fond.

I have a sweet tooth for alcoholic beverages. I like a Kahluah and coke, a Bundy and coke, a Smirnoff Black pre-mixer, Creme De Menthe and lemonade. If it is sweet I will drink it.

But never have I ever experienced a drink so sweet at Moscato wine.

Its like actually drinking sugar.

I recommend Banrock Station at it is the cheap option (approx $6), and it is beautifully fragrant, like drinking a big bunch of flowers.

However, if you want to go a little up-market the Brown Brothers Moscato is also a fine drop.

Here is some random Moscato trivia:

Muscat almost always has a pronounced sweet floral aroma.

Muscat grapes have been found to have high concentrations of antioxidant flavonoids, in quantities as high as many varieties of red grapes. This means that the possible beneficial effects of red wine consumption may also be present in muscat wines.

Scientists from the University of Pennsylvania have analyzed pots from King Midas's burial mound and determined that Muscat grapes were a key component of the alcoholic beverage served at his funeral feast.

Banrock Station Moscato and Crimson Cabernet

Coincidentally Banrock Station also makes a deliciously sweet red called Crimson Cabernet. Smooth drinking, no metho after-taste, and its one of those red that suits being chilled.

Mmmm chilled . . .

Crimson in colour, vibrant and full of flavour, this wine is a sweet, fruity light wine exhibiting ripe cherry and plum characters.

Cheap and sweet.

Is there anything better?

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Lost Dog: Have You Checked The Mirror?

June 16th 2009 11:35

Charles Darwin once made observations about how animals react to seeing their own reflection in a mirror.

It was a test of self-awareness and self-recognition.

The "mirror test" has since been expanded on and scientists have discovered only nine animals (including humans) are able to recognise themselves when a mirror is held up in front of them.

All of the great apes (bonobos, chimpanzees, orangutans, gorillas, and humans) pass the test, however human babies only develop the skills to pass the test after they are about 18 months old.

Other animals capable of passing the test are bottlenose dolphins, killer whales, elephants, and European magpies.

Dogs and young human babies fail the mirror test. They are not self-aware.

If a dog or a human baby has a blemish on them, even if you hold a mirror right in front of their face they will not see that the imperfection is part of them. They will look at the mirror and think the mark is on the figure on the other side of the glass.

If you lose a dog (or a human baby) and you put their face on posters around the neighbourhood, or on TV, they will not recognise themselves. They can not identify their own image. Dogs will never pass the mirror test, but human babies learn to as they mature.

Adult humans who have been blind from birth but have their sight restored initially react as if their reflection in the mirror was another person. They have no visual self-awareness until they learn to develop it.

I think there is a lesson about the value of self-examination in this for us all.

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Posted By: Morgan Bell - Category: Trivia, Pets

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Marijuana Laws in Australia

May 19th 2009 07:56

State by state:

VICTORIA
Possession of cannabis is a criminal offence, but first or second-time offenders with less than 50 grams may be cautioned.

NSW
Possession is criminal, but with less than 15 grams, offenders can receive up to two cautions.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Government plans to decriminalise possession of up to 30 grams or up to two non-hydroponic plants, but $200 fines will apply. First-time offenders are now cautioned.

QUEENSLAND
Possession is criminal, but adults may be cautioned.

ACT
Possession of up to 25 grams, or five plants, is not a criminal offence but carries a $100 fine.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Possession by adults of not more than 100 grams or one non-hydroponic plant is not criminal but carries fines of up to $150.

TASMANIA
Possession is criminal, but offenders with less than 50 grams may be cautioned.

NORTHERN TERRITORY
Possession by adults of up to 50 grams or two plants is not criminal, but carries a fine of $100.

National Drug Research Institute - May 23rd, 2003

Cannabis Cautioning Scheme in NSW

On 3 April 2000, the NSW Government introduced the Cannabis Cautioning Scheme. Under this scheme, police can issue a caution to adults in possession of up to 15g of cannabis leaf (about enough for 15-25 joints). A Caution provides a warning of the health and legal consequences of using cannabis and information on where to seek treatment.

This scheme does not mean that cannabis is now legal or decriminalised. Rather that police have the discretion to issue a caution for small amounts of cannabis. At all times police retain the option of charging people for these offences.

In NSW, if you are found guilty of possessing or using cannabis, you could get a fine of up to $2,200, and/or other penalties including community service work or a term in prison of up to 2 years.

These penalties apply to both adults and young people aged between 10 and 18 years. For growing, importing or selling cannabis, the penalties are more severe. The severity of the penalty depends on the amount of cannabis, if it was being sold, and if you have prior convictions.

You are breaking the law if you possess, use, grow, import or sell cannabis (marijuana), cannabis resin (hash) or hash oil. You may get a criminal record if you are found guilty of possessing, selling or growing cannabis. This makes it hard to get a job, a credit card, or a visa to travel to other countries.

Download a helpful brochure from NSW Police HERE

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Spineless Stressed Hedgehog

March 26th 2009 19:06

This strange looking critter is Spud. He is a spineless hedgehog living in Buckinghamshire in the UK.

Spud is estimated to be three years old and vets are baffled as to when and why he lost his spines. Several medical tests have been performed, bringing back zero answers

[ Click here to read more ]

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Demotivational Posters

March 24th 2009 18:48

Demotivate You is a website with a massive collection of Demotivational Posters.

It is a funny little distraction if you have the time to browse

[ Click here to read more ]

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Cruelty to Vegetables!

March 17th 2009 07:53

Chris Crocker is at it again with another irreverent video . . .

It is a playful jab at vegetarians, I hope the vegos out there dont send him too much hate mail

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Posted By: Morgan Bell - Category: Trivia, Pets, TV & Videos, Queer

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Atheism Rising

March 13th 2009 20:04

The number of "outright" Atheists in the USA has nearly doubled since 2001, from 900 thousand to 1.6 million.

An "outright" Atheist is someone who does not believe in any kind of god

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Martin Luther King Jr had a gay mentor

March 12th 2009 18:27

Bayard Rustin counseled Dr Martin Luther King Jr. on the techniques of non-violent resistance.

Rustin (1912 - 1987) was a homosexual African American man who was instrumental in the community organising that led to the success of the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s

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The Orange Throwing Festival

February 23rd 2009 16:27

Il Carnivale d' Ivrea
The Ivrea Orange Throwing Festival in Northern Italy

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Human Fat can fuel Cars and Boats

February 17th 2009 14:34

If only it wasnt againt health regulations . . .

I just read a disturbing little article about a doctor from Beverly Hills using liposuctioned human blubber to power a couple of cars

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Posted By: Morgan Bell - Category: Trivia, Technology

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Hugh Jackman: fat bastard

January 20th 2009 17:32

We regularly see reports on the evening news tell us we are getting fatter. Australians are getting fatter. More Australians are more fat. We are the fattest people in the world. Or is that the USA? Either way, both of our counties sport a giant load of fatties . . . or so we are told.

The standard for measuring this supposed increasing "fatness" is the BMI (Body Mass Index). I have long been critical of the BMI. As a formula it simply does not make sense. The formula involves divided one number by the square of another creating a graph with a parabola shape

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