Bob-a-job-alog-a-roonie

I have spent 3 years in Scotland and 22 years in NZ, and I love both dearly, so I wish the following weren't true...

Of the world's developed countries:

- Scotland is the most violent country in the developed world, with people three times more likely to be assaulted than in America

- New Zealand had the most property crimes and sexual assaults

The figures are not from the police, they are from phone polls

I give lots of free help (via email) to people who have visited my SearchEngineZ sites. These are people who are not in my address book, and so when I reply to their query, I have to type in a series of random characters before it is sent.

It is so annoying, and quite often I get it wrong because the characters are so hard to read.

I can understand the need for this if I was sending out hundreds of emails a day, but it's more like 10. And I am a paying user, I pay for the premium version of Yahoo Mail.

All I can say is GRRRRRRR!

(elsehwhere in this site is my anti-spam idea that I am sure would end spam forever, if only one big corporation had the guts to try it...)

Just been listening to Diamond Dogs by Bowie (it's been awhile) and I found myself wondering if the musical version of 1984 - something that Bowie had planned, and songs for which appear on the album - would still be around today if it had ever got off the ground (he couldn't get the rights).

Or would it have been too dark and nasty to achieve popularity?

First it was the rugby league, then the netball, then the hockey. Now research has found New Zealanders are beating Australians in the battle of physical activity.

Preliminary results from an international study of activity levels across 19 countries found 63.7 per cent of New Zealand adults are active, compared with 58.8 per cent of Australians.

More at Stuff...

Hylton Castle, Sunderland

THE castle is one of Sunderland's most famous haunted buildings and its ghost, the Cauld Lad, is believed to have caused many a disturbance over the years.

The ghost is said to be the spirit of stable boy Robert Skelton, who was killed after being caught napping by Baron Robert Hylton. He struck the boy with a pitchfork, killing him instantly.

Like all good poltergeists, the Cauld Lad's favourite pastime was throwing dishes, plates and pewter, but this only happened if the Hylton kitchen had been left in a tidy state.

A lady who lived in the castle when it was last inhabited in 1905 alleged that the noisy goings on were so distracting that sleep was impossible in the room where the murder took place.

"After the remains of his murdered body were found in a nearly beck and given a proper burial, his visits ceased," said Sue Scott.

Found here...

With 4 hours to go, and the track likely to be upgraded from dead to good, my top 3 picks are:

1. Railings
2. Makybe Diva
3. Xcellent

Roughie:

Vouvray