Scrabble

I am currently taking on all comers in online Scrabble on FB. That is to say I am playing a couple of random people and a friend's mother, who is giving me a good run for my money.

There's an interesting blog piece on Scrabble, exalting more women to give it a go, here. I watched the documentary Word Wars and it was fascinating. It features a group of people as they try and win the 2002 National Scrabble Championship. Something I found surprising is that they just memorize words (particularly all of the two letter ones allowed) but they don't know the meanings of them. One said he started learning the meanings but realized that he just didn't have the memory space for all of that. I assumed they would all be interested in the meanings and uses of obscure words as well as playing Scrabble; but no. Anyway, if you like word games I would recommend this documentary. I just borrowed the dvd from the library; easy peasy.

Here's the YouTube trailer:

Counting Chickens: is Amazon in the hen house?

Idly browsing through the latest fluffy animal videos and reading about why even one workout will lengthen your life (another desperate plea for us to get off our derrieres),  I come across what I presume is another funny Onion article. Apparently Amazon, our favorite book and everything else online emporium, thinks it can to ship things to you before you even know that you want them. But no it's not the Onion, it's the New York Times. And several other sites confirm it to be true. It's called anticipatory shipping. Doesn't trip off the tongue but describes exactly what it is. So there you are sitting at your desk or eating breakfast or whatever and the door bell goes. UPS has left you something - you open it up and there it is - that new book or bag of pet food that you want but hadn't thought about yet. Or a gift for your sister or mother - exactly what they wanted and just before their special day. Good for you - you'll get brownie points for being on time with a present they really love. This could really enhance your life. Either that or your relatives will be creeped out by the new you.

I ask my friends on Facebook what they think - is it scary or just the logical extension of what Amazon is doing anyway, and not scary. The overwhelming response (both of them) is that it's not scary. "So you're telling me if I hover over a new book release, I just might get it in the mail? AWESOME!" one person says. Maybe everyone is so used to their shopping and browsing habits being recorded it's just inevitable that something like this is going to come along.

Do I care that someone else knows more about me than maybe I do? Yes and no. Companies like amazon have always had this type of data, the difference now being that it's now much easier to collate and draw conclusions about. If it gives me an advantage then great! But equally I worry about data being bandied around without respect. I hope that the data is being protected because I don't want someone stealing from my bank account. I am also a bit wary of people being persuaded to spend more money than they would normally. After all amazon needs people to spend money to keep their profits coming in. 

The other thing I wonder is - what is next for amazon? We know they're considering delivery by drones. What about smart packaging? I want my packages to unwrap themselves or have the packaging dissolve so I don't have to break up the box and dispose of it myself. Or maybe the opposite will happen - they'll hand deliver and then take away the packaging for me? Or the drones will deliver stuff unwrapped and ready to go? Creepy or not amazon is certainly pushing the boundaries.

In a Redbrigde Roundabout Way

Several of my British friends have been in contact re the use of the word "snifter" mostly to point out that "snifter" should be used in the context of having a small nip of something strong like brandy as a way of stealing oneself to do something unpleasant like talking to strangers on the bus and the like. Some have pointed out that I should have used the word "digestif" instead or even "liquor coffee" although I suspect this second term has fallen out of favor much like the Berni Inn chain itself. When I was a young thing these liquor coffees were the height of sophistication. Which bring me onto the next topic - "class". Am I really from east of Redbridge - because we all know what that means. Except most of the world doesn't actually. And I also know that before even reading the blog you can tell the class :)

For those of you nostalgic for roundabouts and perhaps Redbridge here is the famous Redbridge Roundabout sign:

Interesting fact. We lived next door to someone who went to school with Dudley Moore. Why do I mention Dudley Moore? Because he definitely lived east of Redbridge; Dagenham if I remember rightly. Anyway, apparently he used to be asked to play the piano at assembly and everyone could tell he was very talented and the music teacher encouraged him. So there's one for teachers again - thank you!

Reading List

For the book club in March we have to read "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson, always a light read. Apparently this is a true story about the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago and there's a "cunning serial killer" and some other bloke who is organizing the fair. Until I read the blurb I was thinking "other" White City (in London) where, oddly, I used to work until they closed the labs down. But it's nothing to do with that thank goodness.

Great Weekend (I think)

Great weekend. Saw Los Lobos at the Triple door and got polaxed by a couple of café diablos - highly recommended by the way - the diablos and Los Lobos. I emailed a friend with the mysterious message "Wednesday 10am :)" after having had said after dinner snifter. Not sure what I was thinking. No change there. Had to check my sent messages and fortunately she was the only one I emailed and she's used to my odd ways, being from somewhere east of Redbridge herself. 

Harangued by my fitbit I took Sam the energetic sharpei for a long walk. There was an incident when a much smaller fluffy dog trying to bite his legs. Fortunately both dogs were on a leash so nothing got out of hand. He's only been attacked once by a great dane who was off leash and Sam sorted him out - it was a bit scary with all the snarling but the large dog ran off pretty sharpish when Sam started to fight back.

And of course I must mention the Sea Hawks. Had to cook a large pot of chilli to celebrate. No idea of the rules at all. Can't follow the timing either - the last 10 minutes took about 30 - just like a Microsoft update - and then the game was called whilst there were still 7 or 8 seconds to go. Yes I shall be using "whilst" since I know it raises a smile and I can't bring myself to use the more common "while" except when I am saying things like "see you in a while" or "dinner will be ready in a while" etc etc. Anyway good games by the Hawks even though I won't be letting my sons play it.

Here is Sam FYI.

In our house the dogs sit on the sofas and the humans lie on the floor

Riddle

Known as the lord
Of major discord,

Four out and a company

Of sweetness and seen

In contrast to green

What am I???

Wait for it......Mars the planet :)