This story is absolutely true.The secretary at our school received a fax today. As the fax sheet rolled out so did a living, breathing mouse. He had been hiding in the fax machine. She screamed then laughed as it was the most unexpected thing to receive by fax. I told her that technology certainly had advanced since the first fax machines--now they could send live material as well! Would Joeusers with a humorous bent like to coin a sentence that sums up this new technology?

What's your favourite tipple Joeusers? A short quiz and some fact-finding. At sundowner time do you enjoy ?: A) Spirits? Whisky, rum, brandy or something else. Wine? Red, white, champagne ? Would you try an Australian, Chilean, South African or French? C) Tea or coffee? D) Beer: American or imported? E) A Coke or Pepsi. F) The fortified stuff: Sherry, Port or Muscadel? G) A cordial. Some facts for you to comment on: People in many hot countries drink a spirit made from sugar...

I am constantly amazed at the people who fall for Internet scams. It is quite easy to spot a scam and I am sure Joeusers are aware of all the silly things scammers get up to. I read in the Daily Mail recently that the Nigerian 419 still continues to draw in unsuspecting people who are naive about money matters and equally naive about internet invitations to divulge details. They are drawn in by incredibly clever conmen who want to rob them of big bucks. The elderly are special targets. Th...

I'm not into US politics in a big way but I read some news today on Iraq and cooked up a small scenario: Overheard at a cocktail part in Rega: Condi: Mr President, we've got to get out of Eyrak soon. GW: Why do you say that Condi darlin'? Be brief because I'm workin' on Sudan and Somalia this week. Condi: Well, they're blaming us, not Al Kayda. GW: Don't you worry none Condi--I have a strategy. Condi: What's that Mr President? GW: We'll blame Maliki. He's not taming those ragheads....

Wow, Xythe posted a recipe for Italian sausages, peppers and potatoes and my taste buds went jumping. That meal would make a fine midnight snack, warmed over and perhaps filled into a baguette. My favourite midnighter is a cheese, ham and pickle baguette and I might also add some "biltong" , South African dried beef, venison or ostrich. It is very dry and hard but full of spices and it can be fried in oil to give it more tenderness and a richer flavour. Australians and Americans have jerki...

I have neglected African news for a while so here are some headlines and comments: Zimbabwe: President Ahmadinejad vows to take "Bullying Countries" to task for their shameful treatment of Zimbabwe. I think you got the wrong end of the stick Mr President: Robert Mugabe is the biggest bully in the Southern African region! Comrade Robert is signing trade agreements with Iran as I write. Is it a case of :First the Chinese planes, now the Hillman Taxis, Mr M.? Are you perhaps employing a lot o...

Here are some of the things I have learnt as I grow older--as the stomach turns and the mind spins, as they say: 1. Wet wipes have become important in my life. I buy the baby ones because they won't sting my tired butt. 2. If I lose my glasses I cannot do any worthwhile work. May as well take a day off. 3. I keep two sets of keys for everything but often lose both. 4. The quality of toilet paper is extremely important. 5. I collect old banknotes. The new notes don't hang around too lon...

Here are some of the things I have learnt as I grow older--as the stomach turns and the mind spins, as they say: 1. Wet wipes have become important in my life. I buy the baby ones because they won't sting my tired butt. 2. If I lose my glasses I cannot do any worthwhile work. May as well take a day off. 3. I keep two sets of keys for everything but often lose both. 4. The quality of toilet paper is extremely important. 5. I collect old banknotes. The new notes don't hang around too lon...

Where are we going with mobiles? While I read that these little gadgets we use for phone calls are getting more sophisticated, I wonder if technology will turn them into horrendous little packages that govern our entire lives . Modern mobile phones are getting close to my digital camera's capability of 5 megapixels. Will the camera become defunct? And, modern phones do video and caller to caller live online. Will the landline die out? I shall no longer require a stereo set/ mp3 or mp4. Th...

When I was at school in the early 60's we were compelled to study some of Shakespeare's works. How I hated Macbeth and his witches; Hamlet and his Scandinavian plots; The boring whining of the Taming of The Shrew. At age 19 I became an actor upon the stage (first at university), and had parts in all three of the above-mentioned plays (and others). Suddenly Shakespeare was no longer in a book --he was real and clever and provided fantastic lines and scenarios to throw about, great emotions ...

Skynews flighted a former defence official on the news today. He believes in UFO's but said that only 5% of thousands of sightings were unexplained. I don't believe in them at all and here's why (Bear in mind that I respect all views but remain cautiously cynical or is that cynically cautious?): * If it has strobe lights it's not a UFO. We invented strobes. * If it has landing lights or porthole lights, it's not a UFO. We invented them . * If it doesn't have wings how does it fly in our ...

Like all Joeusers, I blog and comment and Google and look at all sorts of things on the web. Kudos to JU for earning this review (see Link below): Very Nice Blog Navigator,forums , articles,top blogsites, topusers, top referrals. Well done Brad and all the JU bloggers!

This list was posted on www.iafrica.com. I found it interesting but don't totally agree: LEAST corrupt countries: Finland IceLand New Zealand Denmark Singapore Sweden Switzerland Norway Australia Netherlands Most Corrupt: Haiti (no surprise). Myanmar Iraq (terminal-don't think it should rate!) Guinea Sudan (Oh yes!) DRCongo Chad Bangladesh Uzbekistan Equatorial Guinea (Don't agree--should be above DR Congo). The least corrupt African State was Botswana (Yes, t...

Saddam, the tyrant ruler has been sentenced to death. I don't think there was any doubt that he would be. I'd be interested to know from JU stalwarts (and others), your opinions on the following thoughts: DO you think the insurgency will worsen after this verdict? Will Iraq explode or find peace? Do you think that the sentencing will have any effect on the mid-term election results? Don't you feel robbed of justice when trials in the Hague take so long? Milosevic deserved to hang too. ...

The Debate on Climate Change. Sir Nick Stern’s report ( UK today),on climate change and the subsequent dangers of global warning is a wake-up call to all of us to act before it is too late. I agree entirely and echo the Prime Minister in his call for a global response. Before I comment further, let me quote from the news release by Friends of the Earth:- “ Yes, we all know it is a global problem (emissions in the UK being only 2%). Nothing will happen to solve it until countrie...