My So-Called Life

About Lizzie:

Lizzie is a fully qualified history teacher having finished her course at Canterbury Christ Church University. She's also a geek who was secretary of the University of Kent Computing Society during her three year BA at the University of Kent. She is very much in love with her shiny Husband, though she is sad that he doesn't glow bloo :(

More about her on her website: http://carina.org.uk

Entries This Month

Apr. 16th, 2009 @ 05:45 pm Help me name my new laptop.

Hiding out here: CT2
Mostly feeling:

chipper
Now Playing: Grand Designs

Tags: ask friendlist , laptop , lord of the rings , poll , shiny , thinkpad

So today I paid for my new laptop, a Lenovo Thinkpad SL500, and all things being well, it should arrive in the next 2-3 weeks. So now I'm thinking about names, and I want the lazywebs to help me name it.

My naming scheme for computers is Lord of the Rings based. My main machine is Aragorn, my VM is Legolas, my phone is Eomer, and my current laptop is Shadowfax, named after the horse that Gandalf rides. I chose the name because the horse goes places and so does the laptop. Yes, I know the other characters go places. Just humour me ;)

So, pick. Shadowfax is included in the list as I'm toying with the idea of just calling the new one what the old one was called. I also reserve the right to ignore the whole thing and go with my own choice if there is a tie, or I don't like what you pick ;)

Poll #1384735 Laptop name
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 17

Eagles or Horses?

Eagles
11 (64.7%)

Horses
6 (35.3%)

If Eagles, which name?

Gwaihir
3 (27.3%)

Landroval
3 (27.3%)

Meneldor
4 (36.4%)

Other (say below)
1 (9.1%)

If Horses, which name?

Arod
0 (0.0%)

Asfaloth
1 (12.5%)

Firefoot
0 (0.0%)

Hasufel
1 (12.5%)

Roheryn
1 (12.5%)

Shadowfax
2 (25.0%)

Snowmane
0 (0.0%)

Windfola
2 (25.0%)

Other (say below)
1 (12.5%)

Other name suggestion

Ticky box

It's not normal to be able to recite large chunks of Lord of the Rings (movies or books)
3 (18.8%)

It is totally normal to be able to recite large chunks of Lord of the Rings (movies or books)
11 (68.8%)

It's not unusual to be loved by anyone
9 (56.2%)

Tickybox
10 (62.5%)

Ticky
7 (43.8%)

Fire!
11 (68.8%)

Glomp!
6 (37.5%)

Gerbils :D
9 (56.2%)

LOTR++
8 (50.0%)

LOTR--
3 (18.8%)

Shinythings!
9 (56.2%)

Socks :)
13 (81.2%)

What about this entry?
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Aug. 22nd, 2008 @ 07:30 pm Poll: Am I disabled?

Hiding out here: CT2
Mostly feeling:

confused
Now Playing: Grange Hill: Series 09 Episode 24

Tags: ask friendlist , depression , disability , help , jobs , mental illness , opinion , poll , question , ukc , uni , university , work , worries

Having made it through Edexcel marking and Clearing more or less in one piece I'm now starting to look at jobs and I've found one I want to apply for.

I've become rather stymied by the "Do you consider yourself to have a disability" question. Thing is, I'm much better than I was, I have to be or I wouldn't consider applying for jobs at all and those closest to me wouldn't let me, but I've been off work for a year, and a year long gap doesn't look good on a CV. I'm still seeing my counsellor and I'm still on happy pills, and though I'm winding down visits to my counsellor I'm probably going to be on the pills for at least another year to make sure I'm properly better and try and stop any relapse. Apparently the first year is when I'm most vulnerable to it. My gut says I should declare it, but I also feel like a bit of a fraud for even considering it.

"The University operates under the Two ticks scheme which means we will interview all applicants with a disability who meet the minimum criteria for a job vacancy and consider them on their abilities". This is rather valuable, and I feel it's my only shot at an interview given the huge gap on my CV when I was essentially "doing nothing", but am I really disabled as it's counted?

The University say: When answering this question, please note that under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 a disability is defined as ‘a mental or physical impairment which has a substantial and long term effect upon your ability to carry out normal day to day activities.’.

Poll #1246569 Job application/disability poll
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 10

Do you think I currently count as "disabled" under the definition above?

Yes
10 (100.0%)

No
0 (0.0%)

Should I say "yes" to the disability question on job application forms?

Yes
7 (70.0%)

No
3 (30.0%)

(Please post any expansion on this or thoughts in comments below)

I can't help but feel that this would all be easier if I were visibly physically disabled.

Any (helpful) advice or comments you lot could give would be really great. I'm feeling very mixed up about this, and a tad anxious about giving the "wrong" answer if I'm completely honest. I mean, I was never on benefits while off work (the forms scared me) so never really "disabled" in the eyes of the government. I just don't know what to say :|

What about this entry?
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Jul. 28th, 2008 @ 05:26 pm "Public opinion" on file sharing/penalties

Hiding out here: CT2
Mostly feeling:

hot
Now Playing: Ice Road Truckers

Tags: links , opinion , poll , thoughts , yougov

In light of the discussion on IRC earlier about DRM which led to downloading stuff, and the potential "three strike" rule (see this and this to see what sparked the discussion), I thought the following might be interesting for several people. I participate in the YouGov daily "select" surveys, and the day after they send out the results so you can see what other people think. These are the results from Friday's survey (questions above the results) - they seemed relevant.

Six of the UK's biggest net providers have agreed a plan with the music industry to tackle piracy online. To what extent do you approve or oppose the following action?

Music piracy should be made illegal
Strongly approve 24.4%
Approve somewhat 27.1%
Disapprove somewhat 14%
Strongly disapprove 13%
Neither approve nor disapprove 18.1%

Internet providers should enforce a 'three strike' rule.
Strongly approve 25.9%
Approve somewhat 26.5%
Disapprove somewhat 12.3%
Strongly disapprove 21.3%
Neither approve nor disapprove 10.8%

Online users should be subject to an annual levy to cover losses from file-sharing
Strongly approve 7.3%
Approve somewhat 12.8%
Disapprove somewhat 13%
Strongly disapprove 52.7%
Neither approve nor disapprove 8.7%

What about this entry?
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Apr. 19th, 2008 @ 12:42 am Poll: Coffee

Hiding out here: CT2
Mostly feeling:

tired
Now Playing: Chicago Hope

Tags: ask friendlist , coffee , exmormon , life , me , mormonism , mormons , poll , polling

A discussion a mormon mailing list about a member's first coffee led me to create this poll. I'd appreciate everyone's answers :)

Poll #1173459 Coffee
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 31

What age range are you in?

Under 16
0 (0.0%)

16-20
2 (6.5%)

21-25
21 (67.7%)

26-30
6 (19.4%)

Over 30
2 (6.5%)

How do you feel about coffee?

I hate it
12 (40.0%)

I could take it or leave it
3 (10.0%)

I like it
8 (26.7%)

I really love it - can't get enough
3 (10.0%)

other (explain below)
4 (13.3%)

Explain your "other" from the previous section

How old were you when you first tried coffee?

What was your first impression?

Hated it
16 (55.2%)

Though it was ok
8 (27.6%)

Liked it
4 (13.8%)

Loved it
1 (3.4%)

If you didn't like it, or only liked it a little, did it you keep trying it?

yes
15 (57.7%)

no
11 (42.3%)

If you didn't like it, or only liked it a little, what caused you to keep drinking it?

Do you like it better now than when you first tried it?

yes
16 (57.1%)

no
12 (42.9%)

As most of you know, I used to be a Mormon & never drank coffee. Now I can drink it, but I don't like the taste. Should I keep trying?

yes
11 (37.9%)

no
18 (62.1%)

Why should I keep trying?

Any suggestions to make it more palatable?

Tickybox

tea > coffee
12 (38.7%)

hot chocolate > coffee
16 (51.6%)

hot chocolate > tea
11 (35.5%)

tea > hot chocolate
8 (25.8%)

tickybox
23 (74.2%)

What about this entry?
12 pokkings pok me! Link me

Oct. 28th, 2006 @ 09:29 pm Playdays!

Hiding out here: CT2
Mostly feeling:

ill
Now Playing: Playdays themetune

Tags: childrens tv , playdays , poll

Playdays. You all remember Playdays right?

If not, here's a little refresher:

Now answer my poll about it! (please? :D)

Poll #855316 playdays
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 27

Did you watch playdays? (aka, playbus)

yes
24 (88.9%)

no
3 (11.1%)

What the hell was playdays?
0 (0.0%)

Which was your favourite stop?

the why bird stop
11 (45.8%)

the playground stop
1 (4.2%)

the dot stop
2 (8.3%)

the patch stop
1 (4.2%)

the tent stop
4 (16.7%)

the roundabout stop
3 (12.5%)

the poppy stop
2 (8.3%)

which was your least favourite stop?

the why bird stop
5 (22.7%)

the playground stop
1 (4.5%)

the dot stop
2 (9.1%)

the patch stop
5 (22.7%)

the tent stop
2 (9.1%)

the roundabout stop
3 (13.6%)

the poppy stop
4 (18.2%)

Ticky box?

Tickybox!
21 (77.8%)

manflu!
11 (40.7%)

giraffe!
15 (55.6%)

pies!
14 (51.9%)

fireworks :D
16 (59.3%)

What about this entry?
6 pokkings pok me! Link me

Aug. 31st, 2006 @ 05:49 pm Gah

Hiding out here: CT2 7NF
Mostly feeling:

mischievous
Now Playing: Queen: Hammer to Fall

Tags: poll

The annoying BBC News Front Page ticker of doom^(tm) is telling me "President Bush says US will stay on the offensive in its War on Terror (more soon)".

To me, this says he has a new target in mind and we'll (because our Illustrious PM will have dragged the UK in too) have invaded another state in the Axis of Evil^(tm) within 12 months. But who?!

Take my fun LJ poll and we can get an idea!*

*not really, it's just an lj poll ;)

Poll #811136 Who will America invade next?
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 18

In light of the news that America will stay on the offensive in War on Terror, who are they most likely Invade next?

Iran
15 (83.3%)

Syria
0 (0.0%)

North Korea
3 (16.7%)

Tickybox?

I heart George W. Bush
0 (0.0%)

I hate George W. Bush
13 (81.2%)

America, Fuck yeah!
5 (31.2%)

Tickybox
10 (62.5%)

What about this entry?
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Feb. 25th, 2006 @ 11:43 am Poll: Favourite Ice Cream (brought on by Green and Blacks ice cream)

Mostly feeling:

sore throaty
Now Playing: ER

Tags: ice cream , poll

MMm...ice cream. This post is brought on by green and blacks chocolate orange icecream. Yum.

Poll #679919 Ice cream
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 19

What is your favourite make of ice cream?

green and blacks
1 (5.6%)

ben and jerry's
9 (50.0%)

haagen daaz
3 (16.7%)

local farm
2 (11.1%)

mackies
0 (0.0%)

supermarket generic
0 (0.0%)

supermarket "value"
0 (0.0%)

supermarket expensive
0 (0.0%)

walls
0 (0.0%)

vienetta
0 (0.0%)

other (explain below)
3 (16.7%)

"Other" ice cream

Favourite flavour?

vanilla
2 (11.1%)

chocolate
3 (16.7%)

strawberry
2 (11.1%)

neopolitan
1 (5.6%)

cookie
3 (16.7%)

plain
0 (0.0%)

other (explain below)
7 (38.9%)

"Other" flavour

Tickybox?

mmmm...icecream
11 (64.7%)

mmm...ice
4 (23.5%)

mm...mice
5 (29.4%)

GIRAFFE!
13 (76.5%)

there's a worm at the bottom of my garden, and his name is wiggly woo
14 (82.4%)

What about this entry?
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Dec. 3rd, 2005 @ 07:42 pm Poll - posted as a result of a discussion between

benc and myself

Mostly feeling:

flirty
Now Playing: National Geographic: Air Crash Investigation

Tags: christmas , poll

This poll has been posted because a conversation between ben and myself about Christmas.

Poll #626069 Christmas
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 23

Should (house) Christmas decorations go up:

Before December 1st
1 (4.5%)

1st December
3 (13.6%)

2 weeks before
8 (36.4%)

10 days before
1 (4.5%)

1 week before
7 (31.8%)

the night before
2 (9.1%)

When should you open christmas presents?

as soon as you get up on Christmas Day
9 (42.9%)

Some ("Santa" pressies) when you get up, some (under tree pressies) after lunch
12 (57.1%)

all after lunch
0 (0.0%)

Is waiting till after Christmas lunch to open main presents:

bad and wrong
11 (55.0%)

the only way to go
9 (45.0%)

Christmas

Yay!
20 (87.0%)

Win :D
13 (56.5%)

A good excuse for pressies
9 (39.1%)

A cynical excuse for profit by industry
12 (52.2%)

Bah humbug
8 (34.8%)

Ticky box

ticky
14 (60.9%)

mmmpie...I mean, mmmtickybox :D
18 (78.3%)

tickybox
12 (52.2%)

o/~ jingle bells, jingle bells
10 (43.5%)

o/~ when a child is borrrrrrrrrrrrrrn
10 (43.5%)

What about this entry?
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Oct. 8th, 2005 @ 06:57 pm Ok, jumping on the bandwaggon and asking LJ what the fuck I should do with my life

Mostly feeling:

crappy
Now Playing: Barenaked Ladies: What a Good Boy

Tags: poll , procrastination

Day started well. Blahblah angst random mood crash feel bad and apathetic and very down blahblah threw pillows can't concentrate blahblahblahangst.

Upshot of all this is that I have a lesson plan for someone to teach on Monday to write and get to him to check over. Trouble is I feel so crap I can't get motivated to do it tonight so I'm asking your advice. I can either say "fuckit, I know I won't achieve anything tonight anyway except getting more stressed and frustrated" and go see an advance showing of Wallace and Grommit, or I can stay and try working anyway.

Blaaah :|

Poll #586159 Wallace and Grommit?
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 10

Should I go see Wallace and Grommit tonight and lesson plan early tomorrow?

Yes, definately. It sounds like you need it
4 (44.4%)

Yes, in the mood you're in now you won't do any work anyway
2 (22.2%)

I'll sit on the fence - it's your decision to make
3 (33.3%)

No, don't go see it tonight. Have a go and see how much work you can do tonight.
0 (0.0%)

Any other comments on this?

obligitory

tickybox
6 (66.7%)

marshmallows
4 (44.4%)

piggeh!
4 (44.4%)

liquorice torpedos and monkey nuts!
6 (66.7%)

I know this ship like the back of my hand... *thunk*
6 (66.7%)

In other news, have my new mobile phone. Nice. Newer version (Nokia 6230i) of my old phone (Nokia 6230). Vast improvement.

Going to go eat more marshmallows now and wallow in my own self pity. Ph33r.

What about this entry?
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Oct. 7th, 2005 @ 10:35 pm Contact Details

Mostly feeling:

exhausted
Now Playing: BBC1 bollocks

Tags: poll

Ben is getting a new Windows Phone *shudder* Anyway, is a PDA so he's given me his old one. Consequently I want all your details, biatches. Do my poll or else :)

( LJ details poll )

What about this entry?
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Oct. 7th, 2005 @ 08:18 am baaah

Mostly feeling:

awake

Tags: poll , procrastination , quiz

Meme sheep!

From

bethanthepurple and

amabat

Type into google search "[Your name] needs".
Post a poll with the results that work (most of your results will have, e.g. in my case, "Elizabeth needs X").

Poll #584991 meme sheep
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 12

Elizabeth needs...

protection
5 (41.7%)

a nuk
4 (33.3%)

to be loved, pursued and reassured
6 (50.0%)

an arena for excellence
3 (25.0%)

to be able to express her feelings to someone she trusts
6 (50.0%)

to find something quick
1 (8.3%)

to feel two things about a manuscript in order to take it on
1 (8.3%)

help navigating the afterlife
2 (16.7%)

to follow up with Margaret to confirm she is OK
2 (16.7%)

to get a jet red lipstick & put it on immediately
4 (33.3%)

Ticky?

Tickybox
9 (75.0%)

box
5 (41.7%)

bokbokchicken
7 (58.3%)

yo' mamma
5 (41.7%)

I'll cut your heart out with a SPOON!
6 (50.0%)

What about this entry?
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Sep. 11th, 2005 @ 01:57 pm LJ Poll the second

Mostly feeling:

lazy
Now Playing: bacon cooking :D

Tags: poll

Poll #568423 pick one
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 18

Pick one

Chapter read and lesson learned
3 (18.8%)

if I hold my tongue I'll never lose my voice
0 (0.0%)

All across the world, people going mad
1 (6.2%)

but memory is a strange thing
1 (6.2%)

The past was much more fun
1 (6.2%)

if you fall I'll pick you up
3 (18.8%)

from my heart I sing
2 (12.5%)

Innocent and in a trance
1 (6.2%)

resurrecting my Fortress to protect myself
2 (12.5%)

I could drown in all this clutter I suppose
0 (0.0%)

Like a storm in the desert
2 (12.5%)

How many lines did you recognise without googling?

none
10 (55.6%)

a couple
3 (16.7%)

some
2 (11.1%)

most
2 (11.1%)

all
1 (5.6%)

Do you like:

Sister Hazel
4 (22.2%)

Barenaked Ladies
12 (66.7%)

John Denver
7 (38.9%)

Who are Sister Hazel?
3 (16.7%)

Who are the Barenaked Ladies?
1 (5.6%)

Who is John Denver?
3 (16.7%)

What are you on about?
8 (44.4%)

TICKY BOX!

Tickybox
11 (61.1%)

tickyticky
9 (50.0%)

Wedding!
11 (61.1%)

no wedding :(
3 (16.7%)

kazoooooooooooooooooooooooOOO!
15 (83.3%)

What about this entry?
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Aug. 25th, 2005 @ 10:38 pm My first LJ Poll!

Mostly feeling:

weird
Now Playing: Truman show

Tags: fun , philip , poll , wedding

It's Phil's birthday in an hour and a half and he will be 18. Vote in my poll! :o)

Poll #559071 Philip's Birthday
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 17

Who thought Philip (red_pill) would make it to his 18th?

I knew he would
5 (29.4%)

I had my doubts
10 (58.8%)

Hell no!
2 (11.8%)

Who cares?
0 (0.0%)

who is red_pill?
0 (0.0%)

Do you wish him a happy birthday?

yes
16 (94.1%)

no
3 (17.6%)

why should I?
3 (17.6%)

maybe
5 (29.4%)

vodka!
14 (82.4%)

<3 red_pill and his birthday
11 (64.7%)

who or what is red_pill?
4 (23.5%)

Put a birthday message for him here:

Ticky box?

pok!
13 (81.2%)

tickytickybox
13 (81.2%)

wheeee!
11 (68.8%)

<3 ticky box
14 (87.5%)

This is the puppet hospital and burns center. It's relatively new.
12 (75.0%)

P.S. 9 Days until the wedding! Got our banns certificate from Harbledown today :D

What about this entry?
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