Discworld novellist Terry Pratchett is to be knighted in the New Year' Honours List. Sir Terry, 60, who has been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease, said: "I am of course delighted and honoured and, needless to say, flabbergasted."
Olympic cyclist Chris Hoy, who won 3 gold medals in Beijing, and was named BBC Sports Personality of the year for 2008, is also knighted. "To become a knight from riding your bike, it's mad," he said. "But it is, genuinely, just an amazing honour."
Lewis Hamilton becomes an MBE after becoming Formula One's youngest world champion in only his second season and double gold-winning swimmer Rebecca Adlington becomes the youngest ever recipient of an OBE. Finally, Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant becomes a CBE.
This is quite cool.
Imperial Stormtroopers: They're Just Like Us!
WinFlip is a rather cool alternate window-switcher to the standard Windows Alt-Tab.
FastCopy is the Fastest Copy/Delete software on Windows.
Do you think Adobe Reader is too bloated? That Nero is too costly? That Limewire isn't all it should or could be? You may want to visit Lifehacker's guide to alternative software solutions. Just follow the link. Their list of the Most Popular Free Windows Downloads of 2008 may also be of some interest.
A research team from Oxford's Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics working with colleagues in Norway examined the relationship between cognitive performance and the intake of three common foodstuffs that contain flavonoids (chocolate, wine, and tea) in 2,031 older people (aged between 70 and 74).
Participants filled in information about their habitual food intake and underwent a battery of cognitive tests.Those who consumed chocolate, wine, or tea had significantly better mean test scores and lower prevalence of poor cognitive performance than those who did not. The team reported their findings in the Journal of Nutrition.
The researchers caution that more research would be needed to prove that it was flavonoids, rather than some other aspect of the foods studied, that made the difference.The effect was most pronounced for wine.
However, say the researchers, those overdoing it at Christmas should note that while moderate alcohol consumption is associated with better cognitive function and reduced risk of Alzheimer's disease and dementia, heavy alcohol intake could be one of many causes of dementia - as well as a host of other health problems.
The List Universe is a site full of top 10 lists covering all manner of subjects. Created by Jamie Frater in July, 2007 the site has grown enormously - mostly due to the brilliant comments that the readers leave. The site is updated daily.
Our usual Saturday rpg session has been cancelled this weekend. We completed Paul's Sabbat Vampire game last weekend and after a brief discussion Colin agreed to run his Valkenburg Foundation Werewolf game in the New Year.
We're still going to get together today and have a DVD-a-thon, where as usual we will take it in turns to select a movie to watch. As is usually the case I'm planning to take one or two along from my own collection.
Off out to Mark's tonight for a few drinks with him and another old friend; Roy. I haven't had a chance to sit down and natter with Roy for the best part of seven years at least. And although I've known Mark for well over 30 years we rarely get a chance to sit down together either. Maybe once or twice a year. I'm taking a bottle of Glenfiddich Special Reserve with me and it's unlikely that any of it will survive the evening.
My nephew got Guitar Hero: World Tour for Xmas and brought it up with him today so that he could play it on my 360. So, for most of this afternoon I have been playing the drums and having loads of fun. It's not very easy, but it's lots of fun.
Here's hoping that you all have a happy and enjoyable festive holiday season. I'm currently sat enjoying one of my own home-made mince pies in the quiet and calm that will be shattered in the next couple of hours by the arrival of the rest of the family.
Norad are once again providing a tracking service for people that would like to know where Santa is. Please visit this site for up-to-the-minute tracking data.
I've just finished watching last night's NFL game. The Chicago Bears came from behind to beat the Green Bay Packers 20-17 in Overtime. For long periods of the game it looked like Aaron Rodgers and the Packers were going to be too strong for the Bears but a fourth quarter fightback and a field-goal attempt that was blocked by Alex Brown forced Overtime. The Bears won the toss, elected to receive and proceeded to move the ball down into field goal range for Robbie Gould to win the game. The Bears need to win next weekend to have any chance of making the playoffs. If they beat the Houston Texans and the Minnesota Vikings lose to the New York Giants they will claim the division. If both the Bears and Vikings win then They can grab a wildcard place if other results go their way. I'm not 100% sure buit I think they need both the Dallas Cowboys and Carolina Panthers to lose.
I'm feeling rather dodgy today. I woke up this morning with a headache and took some paracetamol for it. It didn't seem to do any real good so after I got home from my blood test I decided to have a lie down. I got back up just about an hour ago and went back downstairs. I found the lights in the living room way too bright and instantly ended up in the toilet, vomitting. I have since returned upstairs and am sat with the light off but with the door open so I can get some light from the landing. I have also taken some more paracetamol but to no effect so far.
With only 4 days to go I present you with Alice Cooper's rendition of 'Santa Claus Is Coming To Town'. Enjoy!
Manchester United have just clinched the FIFA World Club Championship by beating Ecuador's Liga de Quito 1-0; thanks to a late Wayne Rooney strike. United totally dominated the first half without managing to make a breakthrough. Nemanja Vidic stupidly got himself sent off after throwing an elbow at Bieler whilst both were on the ground just after the start of the second half. The remaining 40 minutes proved a sticky proposition for United but their worries were eased after Rooney slotted home the winner on 73 minutes.
