Datta, dayadhvam, damyata

Woken abruptly this morning at 6AM by a blinding flash followed by a massive explosion. After dismissing the idea that we were being attacked by Peruvian terrorists or Basque separatists, my sleep-benumbed mind worked out a slightly more probable cause & I was out of bed.

A few seconds of frantic fumbling in my office and all the computers, routers & switches were unplugged, the ADSL line ripped from the wall. Despite surge protectors sitting atop of other surge protectors & unlimited power supplies, I have a healthy fear of lightning. However, for any one in the field of IT, an electrical storm does provide a flawless excuse for a guilt-free lie in.

Just as I was getting back to sleep the phone rang. “We can’t get the internet on our workstations,” complained the client. “I can’t hear you.” I replied. “The thunder is far too loud”.

On Incipient Senility & Canine Excrement

Dementia begins today, as on every day. I was having a discussion with my argumentative young son, Fu, while more than somewhat preoccupied with finishing off a programming project. Our conversation touched on the favourite subject of weird things we’d be prepared to eat. Strange things I have already ingested include snake, alligator (think slightly greasy pork), horse, durian (utterly wonderful despite the stench of rotting flesh), frog, shark & caterpillar (the mescal worm is rather tasty if the tequila is strong enough). The main thing I definitely wouldn’t eat is dog. Fu asked why. All I was able to come up with was the exceptionally inane answer: “Dogs are stuffed full of dog poo”