“Three Apples changed the world: One seduced Eve, One awakened Newton and One fell into the hands of Steve Jobs”

Steve Jobs has passed away.

My sincerest condolences to his family.

I may not have known Steve Jobs personally, although I wish I did, I am deeply, deeply, saddened by his death.

Steve was an inspiration to many, including myself, and his innovative vision and quest for perfection will be sorely missed.

Rest well Steve and suffer no more.

[I wrote a larger piece on Vamers if you are interested to read it]

If you do one thing today, do yourself a favour and watch this speech that Steve Jobs gave to graduates at Stanford University:

I am flabbergasted that the last time I updated Hans’ Milieu was just under five months ago. In fact, I am appalled that I have neglected you – my fellow readers and the blog itself, which I regard as the online extension of my living entity – for so long.

So much has happened over the last several months that it would be almost impossible to detail it all in a single post. I will eventually get to updating my milieu, but until then here is a brief account of the major events that have transpired:

• I am another year older.
• I have almost finished my Masters – something I am both excited and anxious about.
• I am a now Mac user – who would have thought?!
• I have made wonderful new friends.
• I have grown stronger emotionally, mentally and, most importantly, spiritually.
• I am still single.
• The Upper Palatte is making a glorious return – beginning again in August.
• I have started a website for video games and technology: Vamers - officially launching in October.
• One of my Tweets went viral.
• I am committed to going from Flab to Fab by December this year – just in time for Summer.

I will attempt to update as often as possible, at least once a week from this day forward, but my education comes first. So until my Masters is complete I will be unable to update as frequently as I would like. Only a few months to go!

Until the next time Milieunairs!

The experience is not unlike being taken to a lavish all expenses paid three course meal and, just before dessert is served, you are told that you have to leave. Worst of all, we are forced to wait an additional eight months for our just desserts.

In addition to the unfortunate wait, it goes without saying that Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 is not a word for word recreation of JK Rowling’s exquisite books. Instead it is a artistically thoughtful recreation.

However, just like Harry Potter and the Half-Blood prince, this is by no means a bad thing.

With this latest movie installment of the Harry Potter series, the visual cinematic flair is once again flush with the book. Following the tone set in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood prince, British director David Yates has managed to capture, almost perfectly from page to screen, the progressively dark and emotional themes found in the later books of the Harry Potter series. Furthermore, Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint are spectacular in this film with each actor showcasing how much they have grown over the last nine, almost ten, years. The onscreen chemistry between these actors is phenomenal and they perform their roles with absolute aplomb.

Without a doubt Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 is a visually stunning movie. However, therein lies the problem.

Although I am sincerely happy that the creators of this beautifully crafted movie took the time and energy to divide the last book in the Harry Potter series into two parts, I cannot help but feel that they short changed the audience by wasting a lot of time showcasing how beautiful the United Kingdom’s countryside is. Look, I thoroughly enjoy cinematic shots of sweeping vistas and unbelievably spectacular vantage points, some of my favourite scenes in the movie revolve around those shot in the country side with just Harry and Hermione left to their own devices. However, given the two movie split, all these exquisite scenes served to do was draw out what will inevitably become a rushed story. Let me explain.

In contrast to the previous movies in this series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 comes across as a fully fledged drama, sparsely sprinkled with elements of adventure and action. Given the source material, I can understand why this change was necessary. However, what perplexes me most is the way the movie was executed. Essentially two and a half hours is dedicated to the characters dealing with the fact that Dumbledore is dead and that they now need to find the Horcruxes in order to defeat Voldemort. Even though the movie was loaded with references from the past books/movies, which fans will enjoy, I cannot help but feel that this final story was split in two purely for monetary reasons. After all, they managed to fit the longest book in the series, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, into a single movie.

Given the running time of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1, I personally feel that they could have better explained the story featured in the 470 odd pages before (highlight to reveal) Dobby  meets his untimely demise. This is especially true for those who have not read the books. Instead this movie is merely used as an arbitrary and visually delightful precursor of what is to come in the ultimate finale. As a result, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 feels unnecessarily, yet beautifully, drawn out. A lot of build up with little payoff. Understandably, the movie is only one half of a full story, but the fact of the matter is that the movie could have been made to stand on its own. Those who have read the books all know how richly detailed the Harry Potter universe is. No doubt the epic finale will be a non-stop thrill ride, but my fear is that this forthcoming sequel will feel rushed. However, only time will tell if this should serve to be the case.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1 VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Despite my grievances with the sparse story elements; the screenplay, acting and production values for the movie are simply fantastic.  In fact, I would go so far as to say that they are some of the best in the entire series and more than make up for the arguably inadequate use of the source material. The movie makes use of spectacular visual effects and awe inspiring camera work which, truthfully, makes the two and a half hour runtime fly by (true fans can never get enough of being immersed in the Harry Potter universe). 

Compared to other movies in this series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 is an intense drama, and rightfully so. If you are an action fan, you are out of luck. Despite the excellent action scenes, they far and few between. Nevertheless, I do believe that almost all audience members will find themselves, at some point, laughing aloud with joy, cringing with fear, swooning with understanding, sobbing in sorrow and asking for more. I know I did.

Fans, young and old, will enjoy this latest ride into the world of Harry Potter. Just bear in mind that the movie does end on a bit of a sour note with a cliffhanger that would leave even the happiest of people feeling slightly morose. Do not worry though, as that feeling will subside around the 11th July 2011 when Part 2 is released! As long as you can accept that you will only be watching one half of a story, you will thoroughly enjoy Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1.

The Red Carpet gives Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1: 7/10.

The movie was screened in the Il Grande theatre at NuMetro cinema’s inside Monte Casino, Johannesburg. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 releases nationwide on Wednesday 24th November 2010.

Once you have watched the movie, why not cap off the evening with an almost perfect Butterbeer recipe. Go on, try it!

Until the next time “Milieunairs”!

So it is of no surprise that when my fellow Twitter friends, @RubyLetters and @JessicaMcD, tweeted about their blog posts entitled ‘102 Random Facts About Me’; that I would instantly feel compelled to join in on this fun and revealing new Internet meme.

In celebration of what will no doubt be quite a momentous task (just think about how hard it is to think of 5 interesting things about yourself, never mind 102), I have created the ‘102 Random Facts About Me’ blogger badge. This badge will be awarded to anyone who can successfully write 102 things about themself. If you can complete the task, chances are quite good that you will receive a badge.

Without further ado, I present to you, ‘102 Random Facts About Me’.

When I set about writing this blog post, I vastly underestimated how difficult it would actually be. I thought, “okay, 102 things about me… this should be easy enough”. It is all fine and dandy thinking of 102 things about yourself, but trying to find 102 interesting things about yourself, that is another story all together. Needless to say, this is by far one of the most challenging posts I have had to write, but I did it. I hope you enjoy what I have written and I look forward to your feedback!

1. My parents tried for nine years to have a child. They were thinking of adopting, before a small miracle happened… me (that’s how my mom likes to describe it).
2. I’m a preemie. I was born one month premature, thus I spent one month in an incubator. Even though I was premature I managed to weigh in at 3.4 kg at birth.
3. I firmly believe in self preservation. Unfortunately, I managed to break my first bone last year, which I am still undergoing physiotherapy for.
4. I have only ever known one of my grandparents. My fathers mom, whom I only ever affectionately knew as ‘Ouma’. Sadly, all my other grandparents died before my birth.
5. I primarily write in cursive, much to the detriment of everyone else. A teacher once described my hand writing as “beautifully neat from a far, but illegible up close”.
6. There are only a few select people who I will fart in front of. Aren’t they lucky?
7. I am from German and French descent – I can speak and understand French semi-fluently.
8. I still enjoy building and playing with Lego sets. Much to the chagrin of my younger cousins.
9. I’m great with kids. I’m like a kid magnet. Kids love me for some reason. Seriously!
10. Whenever possible, family always come first. Family take priority.
11. I adore symmetry.
12. I am a bit of a self confessed sadist. I will laugh at someone else’s misfortune, within reason of course, before attempting to help them. For example: I would laugh at someone falling on the floor if the chair they were sitting on had to break. With that said, I would never ridicule nor laugh at any kind of person who has a legitimate disability of any kind – this I feel strongly about.
13. I get presents every six months because I’m born in June. Awesome, right? As I have mentioned before I like symmetry, so it works well.
14. I dislike being dirty and I wash my hands more often than I care to take note of. I can also be a bit of a germ freak.
15. I prefer to hug than to shake hands with people (you never know what they’ve been touching).
16. I come from a very warm and close knit European styled family. So I am very ‘hands on’.
17. I have been told that I am an oblivious flirt. Apparently I do it without realising it. Must be my dormant French heritage
18. I always unpack a trolley by grouping items together and I become irritated if the teller scans the items that I have grouped, in a different order.
19. I think I may have a slight case of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD).
20. I have never moved and have only ever called one place ‘home’.
21. I have an ‘innie’ (bellybutton).
22. I am extremely good at keeping secrets.
23. There are personal aspects of my life that I have never discussed with anyone.
24. I am very close to my parents.
25. Although I have been shouted at by my folks, I have never been ‘smacked’ by either of them.
26. My parents have never restricted me from doing anything. They seldom say no. I am an only child after all.
27. I have never been drunk.
28. I have never smoked a cigarette.
29. I have never taken any form of a recreational or abusive substance (drug free).
30. I am still a Virgin *surprise*.
31. Jurassic Park is one of my favourite movies of all time.
32. I still have a vested interest in all things Dinosaur related.
33. I read… a lot.
34. I adore the feeling of getting into a crisp, clean and cool-to-the-touch bed. With that said, I cannot stand it when my bed is creased or has been lain in or upon.
35. The first thing I do when I wake up is reach for my mobile phone.
36. I have had shoulder length hair since 2005. Before that I had a number 2 or 3 ‘buzz’ cut, styled with gel.
37. I love taking photographs – a passion I would like to hone.
38. I am committed to learning how to play the piano. One of my new years resolutions for 2010.
39. I photo-bomb, but only in jest and with those I know and care for well.
40. I graduated with a ‘High Distinction’ (cum laude) for my undergraduate degree and an ‘Honours First Class’ for my honours degree (summa cum laude).
41. I am currently pursuing my Masters in Communications with an emphasis on new media technologies, Ludology and convergence cultures.
42. I am a professional procrastinator.
43. I become irritable with people who cannot spell or who use grammar incorrectly.
44. I cannot bend my left thumb without causing my left index, middle and ring fingers to involuntarily bend in unison.
45. I have a knack for always choosing and liking the most expensive item in a store regardless of the brand. Much to the detriment of my bank balance.
46. Whenever I see a character holding his/her breathe in a movie or on television, I always attempt to hold my breathe in for as long as he/she can.
47. I watch a ridiculous amount of television series.
48. I have an extremely broad taste in music; ranging from the pop synth of Britney Spears, to the rock of Muse, to the velvet voice of Michael Buble, and the symphonic works of Beethoven, all within my vast music collection. What I choose to listen to, all depends on how I feel at that time.
49. My God son is exactly 14 years, 364 days and 12 hours younger than me.
50. This year I will turn 25 – a quarter of a century and half way to 50. 
51. I was born on a Wednesday. Contrary to the popular poem ‘Wednesdays Child’, I am anything but filled with ‘woe’. If anything, I am a glass is always half-full kind of person because I know that I have already sipped down the other half
52. I am a self-inflicted insomniac – I can fall asleep… but there is always just so much to do and never enough time to do it all in!
53. I enjoy writing poetry; I just never make the time to do it.
54. Before bed I will always, without fail, brush my teeth, wash my face and moisturise.
55. I always kiss my parents goodnight.
56. I do not abuse the phrase ‘I love you’ (in other words, I do not say it for the sake of saying it). I will say ‘I love you’ but only if I honestly and truly mean it.
57. I am most definitely a dog person and I am purportedly allergic to cats.
58. I am a boob man.
59. I talk too much and, if I’m really passionate about something, too fast.
60. I’m not a nerd, but I am probably a bit of a geek.
61. I have been told that I have a very good sense of style and fashion.
62. From the age of two, I have been choosing which clothes to wear.
63. I always dress well, even if it is just to go to a convenience store.
64. You will never see me barefoot unless I’m at the beach or in a swimming pool.
65. I have been told that my hands and feet are exceptionally soft.
66. I eat everything… except pork; courtesy of ‘Dr. Gregory House’.
67. Mosquito’s, to my itchy misfortune, absolutely adore my scent. With me around, everyone else is safe.
68. I love new technology and gadgets and I am often always fortunate and privileged enough to get my grubby paws on the latest and greatest tech.
69. I’m addicted to Twitter and the Internet. I had to include it. Being able to access, use and distribute information, from any location and about practically any topic is simply incredible.
70. I have yet to become someone’s ‘Knight in Shining Armour’. When it happens though, I will be sure to tell you all about her
71. I have an affinity for numbers. They intrigue me.
72. I do not have a tattoo but, on more than one occasion, I have thought about getting one.
73. I have only ever said/used the acronym for ‘Fornicating Under Consent of the King’ twice (I distinctly remember each unfortunate utterance). I prefer not to ‘cuss’ as I believe it degrades a persons character and class. However, this is not to say that I steer away from all expletives. I still use some of the more common ‘swears’, although only fairly rarely.
74. I enjoy curling up with a good book, particularly when it rains and it is overcast and cloudy.
75. I love watching liquids move, any and all. I enjoy examining different kinds of liquids, how they move and react to different stimuli as well as experimenting with a liquids viscosity.
76. I thoroughly enjoy anything with chocolate but I am not a fan of ‘sweets’, per se – you know, things like Jelly Tots, Winegums or hard candies. I also prefer eating tarts to cakes.
77. Sometimes I really enjoy simple foods. For example, the smell and taste of buttered toast is enough for me… *begins salivating*.
78. I love milk and can often be seen with a large glass of full cream dairy goodness.
79. I only drive German born ladies – I’m talking about cars here people! At first I was with ‘Goldie’ but now I am with ‘Vivushka’.
80. I only recently learnt that I should floss before brushing my teeth. Yeah I know… *face palm*
81. I have been told that I have a high pain threshold.
82. I have never dyed my hair. I am ‘au natural’.
83. I have only put highlights in my hair twice. I prefer naturally occurring highlights to the artificial kind.
84. I despise people who lie and I know how it feel be betrayed by those closest to you.
85. I know how to forgive and move on but do not expect me to forget how you made me, or those closest to me, feel.
86. If I have something to say, chances are good I will say them to your face instead of behind your back. I am fairly direct but I am not tactless.
87. I cry, unashamedly, in sad movies.
88. I was always the tallest kid in school (nursery/primary/high). I reached my dad’s height at the age of 13. I have grown quite a bit since that time and I appear to have leveled off at a ‘comfortable’ height of 195cm.
89. I have heard all of the “how is the weather up there” jokes.
90. I started shaving at the age of 13 and I am convinced that I have a beard of steel. Razor’s just do not last.
91. I have only ever been asked once, up until this point in my life, for any form of identification when entering an age restricted area.
92. When asked to guess my age, most people think I am in my late twenties.
93. I have been told that when I was two years old, a few people used to think I was at least 5 or 6.
94. I have become completely ambidextrous; after breaking my right dominant arm. Needless to say, it comes in handy (no pun intended ).
95. I do not drink carbonated drinks because they give me more gas than I care to have to deal with.
96. Most of my cousins, aunts and uncles used to (some still do) call me ‘Hansie’.
97. I have been given the nickname of ‘Hunni Bunni’ by most of my younger cousins. My God son calls me ‘Huntsy Buntsy’.
98. I do not physically bruise easily but I do scar quite badly.
99. I am secure enough with my sexuality to not care about what anyone thinks. Thus I am not afraid of wearing colour and I actually really like soft pastel coloured clothing.
100. I love laughing so hard that it spurns on tears, causing my hidden abs to spasm which results in a shortness of breathe. Laughing truly is the best medicine.
101. I am known for being happy, for always having a smile on my face and for laughing, for no apparent reason.
102. I am psyched to think that I did it. I managed to write 102 random facts about myself.

Funny thing about this ‘102 Random Facts About Me’ meme is that I actually thought of more random facts about myself towards the end. I will, however, save those for another day.

I’m tagging Freddy & Louisa for this meme

I hope you all enjoyed learning a little bit more about me.

Until the next time “Milieunairs”!

The ‘99 Things’ idea is to look at this list of 99 things you could have done, and bold the ones that you actually have done!

Here we go…

1.) Started your own blog
2.) Slept under the stars
3.) Played in a band
4.) Visited Hawaii
5.) Watched a meteor shower
6.) Given more than you can afford to charity
7.) Been to Disney World
8.) Climbed a mountain
9.) Held a praying mantis
10.) Sang a solo
11.) Bungee jumped
12.) Visited Paris
13.) Watched a lightning storm
14.) Taught yourself an art from scratch
15.) Adopted a child
16.) Had food poisoning
17.) Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18.) Grown your own veggies
19.) Seen the Mona Lisa at the Louvre
20.) Slept on an overnight train
21.) Had a pillow fight
22.) Hitch hiked
23.) Taken a sick day when you’re not sick
24.) Made a snow fort
25.) Held a lamb
26.) Ran a marathon
27.) Went skinny dipping
28.) Rode in a gondola in Venice
29.) Witnessed a total eclipse
30.) Seen a sunrise or sunset
31.) Hit a home run
32.) Been on a cruise
33.) Seen Niagara Falls in person
34.) Visited the birthplace/home of your ancestors
35.) Seen an Amish country
36.) Taught yourself a new language
37.) Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38.) Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39.) Gone rock climbing
40.) Seen Michelangelo’s David in person
41.) Sung karaoke
42.) Seen Old Faithful erupt
43.) Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44.) Visited Africa
45.) Walked on a beach by moonlight
46.) Taken a ride in an ambulance
47.) Had your portrait painted
48.) Gone deep sea fishing
49.) Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower
50.) Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
51.) Kissed in the rain
52.) Played in the mud
53.) Gone to a drive-in theater
54.) Been in a movie
55.) Visited the Great Wall of China
56.) Started a business
57.) Taken a martial arts class
58.) Visited Russia
59.) Worked at a soup kitchen
60.) Sold Girl Scout cookies/Sold Sports Raffle tickets (this one was biased to the girls, so I added the ‘raffle ticket’ option for guys)
61.) Gone whale watching
62.) Gotten flowers for no reason
63.) Donated blood, platelets, or plasma
64.) Gone sky diving
65.) Visited Nazi concentration camp
66.) Bounced a check
67.) Flown in a helicopter
68.) Saved a childhood toy
69.) Visited the Lincoln Memorial
70.) Eaten caviar
71.) Pieced a quilt
72.) Stood in Times Square
73.) Toured the Everglades
74.) Been fired from a job
75.) Seen the changing of the guards in London
76.) Broken a bone
77.) Been a passenger on a motorcycle
78.) Seen the Grand Canyon in person
79.) Published a book
80.) Visited the Vatican
81.) Bought a brand new car
82.) Visited Jerusalem
83.) Had your picture in the paper
84.) Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year’s Eve
85.) Visited the White House
86.) Killed and prepared an animal for eating
87.) Had chickenpox
88.) Saved someone’s life
89.) Sat on a jury
90.) Met someone famous
91.) Joined a book club
92.) Got a tattoo
93.) Had a baby
94.) Seen the Alamo in person
95.) Swam in the Great Salt Lake
96.) Been involved in a law suit
97.) Owned a cell phone
98.) Been stung by a bee
99.) Swam in the Black Sea

48 out of 99. Yeah… still have quite a few things to do. Hopefully I will get a chance to do some of them this year

Until the next time “Milieunairs”!

To mark this special year, which also happens to be divisible by 5 and you all know how much I love numbers, I have committed myself to 10 resolutions for this new year.

I actually had a grand plan of revealing each resolution on each new day of the first 10 days of the new year via Twitter. Unfortunately, this did not work out as planned. Nevertheless, this is the long awaited and eventual blog post to sum everything up. Without further ado, I present to you, my new years resolutions for 2010:

#1: Obtain the infamous "6 pack" by my 25th birthday.

#2: Sleep more. Try to get at least eight hours of sleep a night.

#3: Blog more. I would like to try and output a minimum of three quality posts a week.

#4: Procrastinate less. Whenever possible, do today what could be left for tomorrow.

#5: Maintain a good posture. Breaking my arm threw everything out of whack. Time to get it all back!

#6: Learn to play the piano. A new means of emotional expression.

#7: Go on a long road trip. Life is about creating memorable moments and experiences.

#8: Adhere to the speed limit and attempt to avoid reckless road rage driven drivers.

#9: Letting go. Stay close to those who add value to your life, discard those who only cause pain.

#10: Make the move. It is no longer if, but when.

All I have to do now, is actually stick to this list of resolutions *eek*. Far easier said than done, but it is not impossible.

I certainly am looking forward to this new year. I do believe that it has a lot to offer and I plan to make the most of it!

God speed to you all and may you all succeed within whatever it is you put your minds to!

Until the next time “Milieunairs”!

As I have mentioned before, I have been neglecting the personal posts with which my blog was originally built on. Believe me, I actually feel bad about it. I love sharing my experiences, whether good or bad, and listening to people’s opinions. Or lack thereof. Consequently I will attempt to revive the personal aspect of Hans’ Milieu.

Okay, a quick recap of the last week:

I am actually in Melbourne, Australia, at the moment. I arrived last week Monday. The flight was pleasant with a total travel time of around 16 hours (including transit and flight times from Sydney to Melbourne). Actually, I wonder why there are no direct flight to Melbourne? Considering that the flight has to fly over Melbourne anyway. Very odd. However I have heard that Virgin will be flying direct to Melbourne from next year. Thank heavens for that as it will make travelling just that much better.

For those who are unfamiliar with my families ‘Australian’ history, all you you really need to know is that we have been planning on immigrating for the last 8 years. Well not really ‘planning’ per se, more like procrastinating. This year, however, I finally had enough of all of the indecision and took matters into my own hands. Thus I kindly told my parents, in the nicest way possible, that, if we could afford it, I would like to continue my Masters and Doctoral studies at Monash University in Australia. A logical move, considering that I am a Monash University Alumnus and already paying exorbitant international student rates, since that was the only way for me to be able to do my Masters at Monash University in South Africa. As a result I am currently enrolled as a Master’s student at Monash University’s Clayton campus in Melbourne, via external candidature (which allows me to stay in South Africa). Unfortunately, it is as complicated as it sounds.

Considering my current academic situation and our continued, but never fruitful, desire to begin a new life in Australia, it makes perfect sense for me to spearhead our Australian move. However, it is proving to be quite a lot harder than we originally anticipated. More so in terms of finding a place to live than actually obtaining entrance to the country (for me anyway). Subsequently, the last week has been focussed on finding me a place to stay while I am in Australia pursuing my studies. Needless to say, ‘house hunting’ is incredibly tedious and rather tiring especially since options are rather limited, courtesy of the strengthening Australian dollar and constantly weak South African Rand. Regardless, I do have hope that we will find a moderate place in a respectable location.

In other news I spent some time with my cousin Terrence, who is currently in Australia via Monash University’s undergraduate study abroad program, I managed to watch New Moon (review coming soon), got tickets to Britney Spears’ Circus Tour for this coming Friday *school girl scream* and have generally been having a wonderful time in Melbourne; further experiences that I will continue to write about when I have the time.

Until the next time “Milieunairs”!

It is once again that time of year. A time of the year which proudly salutes how many years one has existed as well as serving as a macabre reminder of the time one has left. Above all, however, one’s birthday offers an unbarred opportunity to let loose and party until the sun comes up!

Today I will be spending the day with my beautiful parents and most likely end up shopping up a storm. This evening my folks and myself will eat out and most likely watch a newly released blockbuster. Tomorrow night, however, is when the real party begins! I will spill all the juicy details on Sunday but, if you are curious for a hint as to what we will be doing, click here.

In honour of my 24th birthday, I will post 20 useless interesting facts of life as well as four juicy morsels of information about myself, for a total of 24 pieces of information.

‘20’ Facts of life:

1. According to a recent survey, more Americans lose their virginity in June than any other month.
2. An eyelash lives for about 5 months.
3. An Octopus has 3 hearts.
4. A whale’s penis is called a dork.
5. An ear of corn always has an even number of rows because of the genetic formula which divides the cells.
6. The Titanic was the first ship to use the SOS signal.
7. The owl is the only bird to drop its upper eyelid to wink. All other birds raise their lower eyelids.
8. When you blush, the lining of your stomach also turns red.
9. Google is actually the common name for a number with a million zeros.
10. The attachment of the human skin to muscles is what causes dimples.
11. The plastic things on the end of shoelaces are called aglets.
12. The only part of the body that has no blood supply is the cornea in the eye. It takes in oxygen directly from the air.
13. Do you know the names of the three wise monkeys? They are: Mizaru (See no evil), Mikazaru (Hear no evil), and Mazaru (Speak no evil).
14. If saliva cannot dissolve something, you cannot taste it.
15. The housefly hums in the middle octave, key of F.
16. A blind chameleon still changes colours to match the environment.
17. "Typhlobasia" is the practice of closing one’s eyes when kissing.
18. The word "queue" is the only word in the English language that is still pronounced the same way when the last four letters are removed.
19. A sneeze can travel as fast as 100 miles (200 kilometres)per hour.
20. Every time you lick a stamp you consume 1/10 of a calorie.

‘4’ Facts of Hans Haupt:

1. I have three beauty spots on my face.
2. I have a five centimetre long scar at the back of my head, obtained when I slipped while getting out of the bath as a child.
3. I cannot bend my left thumb without bending all of my other fingers on the same hand.
4. I am still a Virgin and not ashamed or embarrassed to admit it.

I hope you enjoyed my birthday post and that you will stop by again soon for a full recap of ‘Hans’ Brady Bunch Birthday Bash’!

Until the next time “Milieunairs”!

 

For a time after learning about their passing, I felt numb. I was unsure of how to process this kind of loss when I had only just begun to accept the loss of a friend. All the wounds I had so carefully tried to sew and mend were viciously ripped reopen. As a result, I was unable to exhibit any kind of emotional grief… until the day of the funeral when the funeral service began. The pent up grief, held back by sheer disbelief, finally and savagely clawed its way out of my already tender and torn heart, exploding in a torrent of uncontrollable sobs and savoury tears. All I wanted to do, at the time, was to bolt out of the church and revel in the despair which consumed me completely. However, I held steadfast and, like a faucet, controlled the flow of emotion which yearned to be set free.

My sincerest condolences, love and support go out to all the parents, brothers and sisters of both Deon and Renche respectively, but most importantly to their three children.

We are all in the process of recovery, myself included. Life is meant to be lived and celebrated. An ethos I have taken to heart! Above all else, we must never forget that time and faith are the greatest cobblers of pain and suffering as they allow us to walk away from grief into the arms of hope.

Have you heard the news? In a recent discovery made by a Japanese journalist,a secret lab was found that has begun genetically engineering animals to resemble the cute critters of the world renowned Pokémon brand. Apparently they wanted to create a Pokémon Zoo to help increase Japan’s dwindling tourist economy. CNN.com had the following to report:

"In a startling discovery, made by the infamous Japanese reporter Ms. Yoshiko Sakurai, the evidence of an advanced experimental gene splicing and cloning facility was found in Saijo within the Chugoku Sanchi district of Hiroshima. The facility was said to be experimenting with animal DNA, through a new genetic process that incorporates the peptide bonding of nucleic acids; and the dismantling of RNA chains through the use of a revolutionary restriction endonuclease called Moniseraze. Through this new process, the Japanese scientists were able to splice genes from different animals to create new biological organisms. Although this is a tremendous breakthrough for modern medicine, it is in direct violation of the Genetics Act of 2001. The organisms created offer striking resemblances to that of the famous Japanese Pocket Monster concept, Pokémon".

I hope you all enjoyed that piece of well written and semi-believable balderdash… LOL ! I’m sure most of you figured out that it was a false news story that I made up. If not… then I hope you have/had a good laugh at it !

So, do any of you Milieu Pals out there like Pokémon? For those who know me quite well, you’ll know that I’m really into collecting Pokémon cards, among other kinds of card collections. I have been a Pokémon fan for… gees… its been so long that I can’t even remember when it started in South Africa . Regardless I really enjoy playing the card game and the suspense of not knowing what cards you will be receiving when you buy a new ‘booster’ pack of cards.

Some of you, who are reading this, are probably thinking the following… "Pokémon, did he say Pokémon… HA HA HA HA"; "That’s for kids man, you’re twenty already"; and so on and so forth. I have only the following to say to those with such a narrow minded perception of individualism: when I started collecting the first series of Pokémon cards I was fortunate enough to obtain 2 Charizard Holographic cards. Both of those cards (in near mint condition) now have a collectors retail value of $160 dollars each, which equates to R1 040 (at time of currency conversion) and that’s only for a single card. My collection is now regarded as an investment, not just a child’s game .

Okay, the point of this entry was to actually discuss something that I found with regards to Pokémon. I can’t remember how I stumbled onto the site; I think it was from clicking on a link in the TeamXbox.com forums. Basically I was redirected to a site, called Worth1000.com, and onto a page for a Photoshop competition revolving around Pokémon. The aim was to create Life Like Pokémon.

I was amazed at what I had seen! Some of the people who submitted entries are really talented. So, I’ve decided to share the photographs with all of you. You may find the photographs of the ‘Real Pokémon’, with their names, in the album entitled: Breaking News: Pokémon Exist! For the website I got the photographs from, please click here.

View Full Album

I should actually be studying now… considering the fact that I have two theory intensive exams for next week Wednesday; Psychology: Organisational Behaviour and Integrated Marketing Communications.

Wish me luck!

*Update* – I found this fan made video on Youtube which has even more pictures of ‘real’ Pokémon.