Apparently I’m not the gift to women that, well, nobody really imagined me to be anyway:

“Men with “front vowels” in their names — sounds formed at the front of the mouth like the “a” in Matt — were considered sexier than men with “back vowel” sounds like the “au” in Paul, she concluded”

What makes it hurt even more is that I’m sitting opposite someone called Matt.

A little excitement that the major media seems to have largely passed on. It seems that the recent announcement by the White House of the name of Muhammad Naeem Noor Khan, the Al-Qaeda communications guy whose information prompted the recent scare-mongering (or was that prompted by the Democratic convention? Whatever.) may have succesfully foiled a sting operation involving Kahn that could have led to the capture of many more Al-Qaeda operatives. It doesn’t seem too surprising that this hasn’t become the big deal it should have, so let’s focus on another aspect of the story. Here’s a quote from David Blunkett, the British Home Secretary:

“Is that really the job of a senior cabinet minister in charge of counter-terrorism? To feed the media? To increase concern? To have something to say, whatever it is, in order to satisfy the insatiable desire to hear somebody saying something?”

Apparently, yes.

{Via Billmon, with more details here}

I worked out yesterday that the last time I took two weeks off work in a row was for our honeymoon in ’97 (which was actually 3 weeks). For Americans that might not be a big deal, but our British readers will know just how, well, how unBritish that is. But no more! At the end of August we travel to NYC for 2 weeks, mostly spent with my cousin, but with some time Washington to give them a break from us.

This post is partly a gratuitous opportunity to use one of my favorite song titles – expect a repeat reference after the visit.

A quote I just heard listening to the Tour de France coverage, from Paul Sherwin:

“They want to keep the mechanics all nice and greased up.”

I think he was referring to the mechanical components of the bikes, given the rainy conditions.

From Pharyngula, a thin slice of everything you could ever want to know about me. Feel free to join in on your own blogs.

• Act your age? 33, which is old enough that whenever asked I have to think about it.
• Born on what day of the week? Friday.
• Chore you hate? Packing. Ask Claire.
• Dad’s name? Ian (one of my midle names)
• Essential makeup item? E45 Lotion.
• Favorite actor? Still thinking about this one. Let’s say Michael Caine (“You’re only supposed to blow the bloody doors off!”)
• Gold or silver? Irony.
• Hometown? Leek, Staffs. The sort of town you want to move away from, then as you get older you realize it’s not a bad place to settle down.
• Instruments you play? Guitar as much as anything.
• Job title? Quality Control Analyst III.
• Kids? Lauren and Sam.
• Living arrangements? Big leather chair opposite the biggest TV I’m allowed.
• Mom’s name? Flo.
• Need? Chocolate.
• Overnight hospital stays? Ha! Pyloric Stenosis at 3 months for a day or so I guess, a year at 6-7 and another month at 12 for Perthes disease. And two nights when Lauren was born, ‘sleeping’ on an uncomfortable chair with her on my stomach.
• Phobias? Peacock feathers.
• Quote you like? “I love deadlines. I especially like the whooshing sound they make as they go flying by.” – Douglas Adams. And “We have become as gods, so we might as well get good at it.” Stewart Brand
• Religious affiliation? No thanks.
• Siblings? Brother (half, technically)
• Time you wake up? 5:30 am
• Unique talent? I appear to have two bellybuttons, does that count?
• Worst habit? I don’t remember.
• X-rays you’ve had? I refer you to my ironic laugh regarding hospital stays. Probably 50 of my pelvis, plus assorted dental.
• Yummy food you make? I used to make a mean curry following a recipe from Tescos. Know my talents are confined to chocolate waffles (Claire just can’t seem to get it right, even Lauren knows that).
• Zodiac Sign? Pisces, though I haven’t read my horoscope since high school.