a quick slink

Izzie has just slinked into the nasty net cafe. There are 30 computers here and only 3 other nerds but would you believe it - one of them has snatched computer no 15. That's the only one that Iz can use to get into the dungeons and chat with dementors since Azkaban crashed last week.
Anyone who was logged on somewhere at the time can get in there but everyone else is locked out. Iz hopes they take the opportunity to upgrade from Ikonboard to Invision or something more userfriendly.
So one more opportunity for procrastinating has been snatched from the Iz and she has to spend more time counting those beans.
Actually - got lots of things to report. Dinner at the Dursleys and the nasty encounter with some antibiotics. Iz will never ever ever go near those damned poisoned pills again. Five tablets and fifteen silver sickles later, Iz still has her sore throat but now has a most appalling taste in her mouth ever since.
Well - must also remember to mention the girlie werewolf project too.

Must be off before the evil goblins resume control of the system.

PS Izzie is back four hours later feeling somewhat peeved and relieved at the same time. Five minutes before Goblins resumed control, Iz posted the earlier bit of this entry. Nothing happened. Tried again. Got a most novel explanation. Not the data base is not accessible or even 'your journal is in read-only mode' but some strange strange thingie about data and access keys. Iz wonders does LJ keep some sort of 404 list somewhere for messages you get when your post disapparates into a black hole.
Guess we could have tried posting as a comment but the clock was ticking faster and faster. In the end Iz just assumed that it was yet again another bunch of munchies for the black hole of Cyberia. So Iz was rather amused to turn up at the Ministry computer labs and discover that this unsuccessfuly sent post appeared not zero times but had made eleven little clones of itself. So apologies to any Izzie friendses in those few hours for the evil Izzie spam attack!

Since those few hours ago, the Izzie snaky throat is getting grumpier and lumpier. Was only thinking after having bought those nasty pills and then dropping into that Greek grocery store and grabbing clumps and clumps of purple garlic - if ickle Iz had had her thinking cap on, would have left those pills just where they were and gotten some sage instead. Must really try to find the fresh stuff. It's full of happy hormones, reduces sweating and is particularly good in stuffing and for stuffed throats. Iz used to drink it quite often. Sort of slipped the Izzie mind. Iz always has been anti- antibiotic but now she has converted to militancy.

The ma says that you are not supposed to drink alcohol while on antibiotics and you should eat lots of yogurt. Iz knew about the yogurt but not about the booze. Was in fact rather astonished to find no information at all in the packet about side effects, contra-indications and all the other userful things that a pill popper needs to know.
Well - there is also the possibility that the Iz has severe garlic poisoning. Wonder what the symptoms of that may be?

No more nice serpentses

Over in evil empire land, ickle Izzie is hoping once and for all to end her shameful status as the Evil Overserpent of a "Father knows best" state.

If we don't get upgraded to a corporate psychotic dictatorship after this latest bit of legislation then it will be time to retire from politics and potter around aimlessly in that fluffy pink cardigan

Ashnazkaban Decides:
Public Loudspeakers Shrill With Controversy

Government Acts
The Issue
A recent poll on putting up huge loudspeakers in Ashnazkaban's cities for public government broadcasts has been brought to your attention.

The Debate
"This idea is brilliant, and Ashnazkaban can't afford to pass it up," claims Miranda Thiesen, your Minister of Safety. "These loudspeakers can assure the public that the government is always here to help them. The potential here, to immediately warn citizens of an emergency such as an earthquake or a stampede of vampires or something, simply must be taken into account! This could save lives! And I suppose, when there isn't anything the citizens need to be told, you could always use them to broadcast patriotic messages like 'There is only Power and those too weak to seek it' and inform the good people which party to join and vote for with newsbriefs and such. It'll be worth it to strengthen the populace's devotion to our glorious nation!"

This is the position your government is preparing to adopt.


"I think people need to realise what this really is: brainwashing!" retorts Hope Hendrikson, a wealthy marketer. "I don't want to hear all this flag-waving hogwash everytime I go out for a walk. But when it comes to emergencies, I do agree that something should be done to warn everyone: we should send out messages on mandatory minature radios that you can carry in your pocket. It could tell you things you need to know too, like what shoes to buy and such."
[Accept]


"To be honest, I can't see why we should put up with advertising at all," says Abraham Spirit, an anti-business protester. "All it is is some multi-billionaire or politician somewhere trying to make even more money while the rest of us struggle to make ends meet. I say we ban it. Maybe the economy will suffer a little and some people may lose jobs but that's just a minor side-effect really, especially when you consider that no longer will our children be encouraged to fill themselves with junk-food because some guy on the telly tells them it's cool!"
[Accept]
The Government Position
The government has indicated its intention to follow the recommendations of Option 1.

More delicious Google goodies

Who says Geekmail is evil? Iz rather loves reading those adverts to see how clever Big Google has been in snooping on the Iz.
And how could we resist such a tasty little morsel - all free to a good home

Dragon's Breath Dip
There are two heads (yes, entire heads) of garlic in this dip! (That’s why it’s called Dragon’s Breath). But I assure you, when garlic is roasted, it becomes sweet and nutty. This is one of the most popular dips I have ever served.

2 heads garlic
1 Tbsp. olive oil
8 oz. Brie cheese
1/2 tsp. seasoned salt


Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cut top 1/2" off the top of the garlic heads. Remove some of the loose papery skin, leaving the heads intact. Place each on a square of foil, drizzle each with the olive oil, and wrap well. Bake at 350 degrees 50-60 minutes, until the garlic is very soft and begins to brown. Cool until easy to handle. Squeeze each head to remove the soft roasted cloves.

In a food processer, process Brie cheese with the seasoned salt and garlic cloves. (You can also cream these ingredients together using the back of a spoon and a lot of energy.) Refrigerate several hours to blend flavors. Serve with crackers, crostini, and sliced French bread.

(Izzie still has that sore throat and wonders if she is suffering from a severe case of garlic poisoning)