9/11 Pentagon Tape May 16, 06, 10:10 a.m.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world…

So they're releasing the video. After watching Loose Change I'm unconvinced it was a plane, plus I still don't see one in any of the still images there. I want to see how good a job they did of faking this one.

Fook I love a conspiracy theory.

Underage chavs give birth. May 23, 05, 4:13 a.m.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/45…

"Three schoolgirl sisters have given birth aged 12, 14 and 16.

"The Williams sisters, who live with their mother in a council house in Derby, feature in a BBC3 documentary called Desperate Midwives.

"Natasha, the oldest, Jade and Jemma, the youngest, are reported to receive £600 a week in benefits."

That's just plain wrong. We don't need any more of these people on the Earth. And look at the f@cking kids names! T'Jay, Amani and Lita. Christ on a bike!

Canadanada Jan 28, 05, 4:33 p.m.

Feck! We've done it! Me and Dita have applied for our Visa this morning. Look out Canadians, the Scots are coming!!!

Freaky Noises Jul 10, 07, 6:49 a.m.

Last night I was up late working on my website. I was the only person in the house who was awake and the only light on was in the den where I was sitting.

About 1:45am I heard four or five slow, loud footsteps (like shoes or boots on wood floor) in the living room and a noise like something heavy being placed on a wooden table or floor. I went to look but there was nothing there.

I knew it couldn't be an intruder as the alarm system on the house lets off a signal anytime any one of the external doors is opened.

I know for sure I didn't imagine the noise, I was sitting in silence on my computer, no tv, no music, no alcohol.

It's the second freaky thing that's happened to me in this house...

About three months ago I was in the den watching TV. I got up to go to bed just before 2am and turned the TV off, placing the remote on the coffee table. I stood up, walked towards the door and just as I was about to turn the light off the TV turned itself back on.

I nearly shat myself. I froze for about 30 seconds then walked back to the remote to turn the TV off. As I was standing there I got a freezing cold chill up my legs and back, like someone had opened a door and a draught blew in.

This house is freaky and it's not even that old.

Anyone else had any similar experiences?

Fonts You Want 2009 Jan 20, 09, 12:49 p.m.

NO NO NO!!! May 29, 05, 3:31 p.m.

I hate it when people do this...

http://www.newstoday.com/pbs/fin…

"Awesome work" - that's not for you to decide mate.

I hate my career. Jun 26, 06, 5:35 a.m.

Which is bad really seeing as I've been doing it (including college) since 1998. Now I'm trapped and there's no way out.

My new gf has asked me to go and live in the US and I'm 99.9% sure I'm going to. That means I need a job in a specialist field so I can get a temp working visa. I have a place to live there and access to a car, no debts and a big whack of US dollars to go over with.

But I still have to work in design. Which sucks arse big time.

Life is sweet. Sep 21, 05, 3:26 p.m.

Just worked a 14 hour day, no lunch, left work at 10pm and went to a gig by myself (King Biscuit Time - ex Beta Band). Had quite a few drinks on an empty stomach and now I'm sitting in a cold, empty flat because my girlfriend and I split last Thursday after nine years together.

I'm now tucking into a nice bottle of BNJ Whisky from Sunny Leith. I can't see me doing much work tomorrow.

Anyone have any words of wisdom or good links that'll cheer me up/inspire me?

13 yrs of work. May 10, 07, 11:37 p.m.

9 yrs commercial experience.

http://www.saltandsauce.com/

I've had my US work permit for three days and I'm just starting the big push for a job. Looking mainly in the Indianapolis area to start with but thinking about looking further afield. Thought about FL/NJ/PA. Anyone know the markets there? Any jobs? Where do you recommend? Not CA, the wife says “NO”. How about OR? EH? HMM. I have ten thousand questions but my brain is melting. I need sleep (3:12am here now).

It's taken me almost four years to get round to updating my website (due to work demands) but I've finally done it, thanks to plenty Heineken and a comfy couch. The site build is a bit crude (I'm a print designer with a little web experience) but then I only need prospective employers to see the work.

Any comments/criticism (on the work and site) also appreciated. Thanks a billion.

P.S. I like parentheses, can you tell? I sound quite coherent for the amount of Heineken I've consumed.

P.P.S. Nobody's actually read this far have they?

Regards,

Giving up drinking. Apr 4, 09, 8:57 a.m.

Anyone ever done this? I contemplate this every few months, mostly cause I'm bored of the Scottish drinking philosophy that's been drummed into me over the past 17 years. Don't touch a drop Mon-Thurs, then Friday-Sun I pile copious amounts into my system, stay up late, wake up late, feel like shit and waste all my time off.

I'm not saying I want to give it up all together, I enjoy beer outside as much as the next guy, but I want to stop weekend binge drinking (unless I'm doing something that merits it, like camping, socializing with rednecks, gatecrashing a high school party).

The hardest thing for me is when I'm bored I need to convince myself that alcohol isn't the answer but I have no idea how to do that.

Any tips?

Major advice needed. Jul 30, 08, 7:41 p.m.

I have a situation. In fact I have a few. I'll be as brief as I possibly can but it's complicated. Maybe I just need to vent as I'm not sure how anyone can help. Read or don't, it's up to you.

I've been living in Philly for nearly a year now. I'm underpaid, overworked, my wife is unhappy being away from family, we have no money and several maxed credit cards. We don't want to stay here but can't move back to her family in Indianapolis as there is no work.

I borrowed $1500 for a flight to the UK for some interviews. I had 6 of them in two days and they all went really well. Tomorrow is two weeks since the first one and I haven't heard anything. My apartment lease is up in September and unless I hear something by the end of this week I'll be forced to sign another 12 month lease (no 6 month available) tying me here, so I'd have to turn down any jobs I get offered. I can't afford to move apartments as my new puppy has all but ruined the carpets, replacing which apparently costs $800 minimum for the smallest apartment (ours is much larger).

If I do get a job I'd have to borrow another $1500 for a flight and there's nobody left to borrow from who can afford it. I can't get a loan from the UK as I'm out of the country and I can't get one here as I'm STILL not recognized by credit agencies. I'd also have to move over by myself and stay with my parents for 6 months until my wife can get her visa (costs about $1000). She would go back to Indiana to live with her sister until we got things sorted, which means massive removals costs. Plus, My 2 dogs need to go through all the PETS travel procedures for them to get through quarantine. I'd be apart from them for 8 months at least and the thought of it scares the shit out of me.

Add to all that the fact I'd be abandoning my permanent residency and it may (I've been told) go against me ever getting back into the country in the future.

We both really want to move back to Scotland and financially it's the only way we can get out of this rut...

I'm sure I had some questions in here somewhere but my brain 's buzzing and I'm really tired. I'll take a break and get back to you...

Charging a shitload. Sep 23, 08, 7:06 p.m.

How do you justify, say, charging a client $3k for a simple logo? I have a client who has money coming out his ears at the moment but I'm swaying on the thought of charging him $3k, especially since his logo is shit right now and probably cost him next to nothing. He's a family friend but he makes a fortune from event tickets. I might end up doing his website too, plus a load of eBay crap so I don't want to scare him off right at the start.

In my experience, the average logo for me has taken a minimum of 20-30 hours, usually more after research, initial ideas, development, etc.

I read another thread on QBN where someone said they never charge less that $5k for a logo. Do you do the same? How do you justify it to the client, or do you even have to?

Classic Metal Jun 12, 09, 8:13 p.m.

I'm drinking and in the mood again. I'll start.

Pick a bike, any bike... May 6, 05, 9:54 a.m.

Torn between two:
http://www.orangebikes.co.uk/200…
http://www.bikes.com/bikes/2004/…

What do you reckon?

Philadelphia Jul 30, 07, 12:05 p.m.

I'll be there next week for a few days for a job interview, most likely Wed-Fri. Anything I should definitely try to do when I'm there?

Oh, and I'm poor now too so free things are a bonus!

Puppy Names Mar 22, 08, 5:36 p.m.

Having trouble finding a good name for my new pup. Got a list of some possibilities but none of them feel 'right'. He's a male Italian Greyhound, 8 weeks old, bit of a nuisance.

So far:

Franchitti (Frankie) - after the Scots-Italian Indy 500 winner

Iggy - obviously (too obvious?) after Mr Pop

Puccini - someone else's suggestion

Tyson (Mikey) - he likes to chew ears

Jake (la Motta) - he's a brawler

Anyone have any good suggestions?

Lazy/Apathetic Dec 2, 05, 3:18 a.m.

So, my alarm went off at 8:30am. I repeatedly hit snooze and got up just now at 11:30am. I had plans to get out and do something today since I spent 10 hours on the couch yesterday with iTunes, but now I'm listening to Cibo Matto and my desire to actually move from the couch is slowly melting away. I want to have the motivation to get out but I really just don't care at the moment.

Anyone ever been like this? Is it necessarily a bad thing? How can I get myself motivated?

Edinburgh bomb scare Jul 7, 05, 10 a.m.

Princes St blocked off, massive police presence there and in Waverley station - check the webcam - lone bus...

http://www.camvista.com/scotland…

Boredom Oct 22, 05, 8:57 a.m.

Saturday's aren't meant to be this boring are they?

Got up at 9am, sat around for half an hour doing nothing, no tv, no food, no drink. Went back to bed until 1pm then got up and sat on the sofa. That was 4 hours ago and I've done nothing since, just the laptop hooked up to the stereo, tv on mute.

I've got loads to do (diy jobs, housework etc) but I just can't be bothered. Now I've cracked open a Stella out of sheer boredom. Anyone else having a similar day?

Is there a doctor in the house? May 10, 09, 5:26 p.m.

Even with insurance, I can't afford another trip to the doctor (thanks, USA) so I thought I'd do the next best thing and ask the experts, erm, here.

Moved into a new apartment two weeks ago. The next day I started to get allergy symptoms; itchy throat and ears, itchy, watering eyes. The itching eyes eventually developed into conjunctivitus by the following weekend, and even after antibiotics and Zyrtec, the allergy symptoms remain (eye meds took care of the Pink Eye).

This could be down to one of three things:

1. I'm allergic to the smelly, smoky second-hand sofa my wife's parent got for us.

2. I'm allergic to something in the a/c, even though I've checked the house top-to-bottom for mould, etc.

3. After 34 years I've finally developed everyday allergies like millions of others (haven't had them once before I moved in here).

When I leave and go to work, the symptoms die down and sometimes stop completely. I'm totally fine when I'm outside.

One more thing... since developing these allergies, I have one more symptom. When walking I get serious pain from my left hip to my left knee. It doesn't happen when I run, only when I walk. And it doesn't hurt until I've been walking for a few minutes; I can be sitting and walking around the house/office all day and feel nothing.

So... cure me. Go!