More ebay shenanigans

Item: Gamecube Memory Card.
Feedback: Mind-boggling service from the steadfast ebaymeister that is GAZZA*T. Brill.

I enjoyed that one.

By the way, I've finished my second degree. Yey! Now I can fulfil my ultimate dream of being a postman.

Tremendous

You may be aware of the feedback system involved in the many marketplace-based shops. but For every transaction in which you partake, you are encouraged to offer feedback on your experience with the relevant user. Alas, this has evolved into something like "Smooth transaction! Thanks! A+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++", which has the literal translation of "Cheers, but I can't be bothered going into the details" (the irrelevantly long trail of plus signs relates to the character limit, and just shows that someone has held the button down until it doesn't go any further).

Well, having had a lot of time to think about things recently, I've decided to start a new project. Or sub-project, I should stress, for I would hate to think that you see this as something that would take over my life. Basically, I'm going to turn this thing on its head. It's going to be like a mini-revolution! Or something. Every time I offer feedback from now on, I'm proposing to describe the transaction in the most convoluted ways possible, and I will remain positive despite the now soulless nature that is commonplace of what used to be a novel idea. I mean, it's a neverending worldwide carboot sale that you don't even have to leave your house to attend. How can we take that for granted?

I have to confess this isn't something I just came up with. In fact, it goes back to April 2005 when, inebriated, I stated of a particular transaction: "Payment received within six minutes of bid ending. The world's best ebayer?" It's kind of snowballed from there I guess, ranging from the simple ("Truly amazing.") to the ridiculous ("Awesome ebayer! I got a free CD for nowt! What a legend". This probably caused the poor girl a host of problems when further transactions were greeted with "Where the chuff is my free gift?" - or whatever youths say these days). My pick of the bunch is "There is no possible way that this payment could have been any quicker. Amazing!" although a special mention must be made for "I will definitely be using this supremely tremendous marketplace dealer again. Top dog."

I hope to continue this trend in future transactions, not least because it begs me to commit to even more activity on my marketplaces of choice than ever before. I will also take this moment to encourage everyone (possibly singular) reading to do the same, and tell their friends to do the same. Hopefully you'll get as addicted to this as I have and turn the online marketplaces back into the warm and personal places they could and should be.

Last Man Standing

If, like myself, you've been addicted to Last Man Standing for the last few weeks, then you'll understand how frustrating the final episode turned out to be.

The show follows six men - three from both Britain and America - as they visit the most remote areas of the world to compete in tribal games and competition. Each week (not consecutive weeks I must add - it was filmed over a year) the last man standing wins a point. After eight weeks, the person with the most points wins.

Competitions included Zulu wrestling, Mongolian wrestling, Trobriand cricket and Mexican endurance running. Whilst you may think that American muscle-man Brad (above, far right) would ace the lot of them based on his physical power, when faced with something like the final challenge, Sepik canoe racing (like normal canoeing except you have to stand up), the top heavy demeanor scuppered his chances.

The overall winner was Jason, an American BMX champion and tree surgeon. The title was decided through a vote right at the end after a three-way tie between him, best-Brit Rajko and Brad.

The frustration came from the way they decided the winner. Instead of having a face off following the tie, which would have been in keeping with the spirit of the competition, they decided to have a secret vote. Jason wasn't too bad, but it's just that out of the three he deserved the title of Last Man Standing least. He could perform well, but was too cockey and consistently used dirty tactics to ensure victory, including breaking two of Rajko's ribs in the Nagaland kickboxing event. He was a great athlete, but my vote would have been for Brad who had the added battle of being away from his pregant wife and child.

This doesn't take too much off the show overall though. Not only were they under extreme pressure to perform every week to impress the villagers, they had to let themselves be absorbed into every aspect of local life, including slaughtering animals, performing rituals, summoning spirits and eating insects. This truly was reality TV at its best - a late slot on BBC3 ensured no limelight or fame for any of the athletes, and the trials relied on skill, determination and ability to adapt to the task in almost no time at all. It takes a specific type of person to do what these guys have done, and I think a metaphorical taking off of the digital hat is in order. Well done sirs.

Keychains in Diguise!!!

Well, isn't this little gimmick wonderful? The original 1st generation Bumblebee toy, in the form of a key ring. Obviously it's shrunk a little but the most important thing is that it transforms into a VW Beetle, just like the old days. Sure, the new film design looks cool, but when it comes to transformable action figures there's only one way to go and that's old skool.

I think the biggest crime is a line called "Poseable Robot Replicas", which basically means a line of Transformers toys that don't actually transform. What's that about?

On the other end of the scale, some people in London have been reported to spend upwards of 2 hours transforming the deluxe range of Optimus Primes. Madness, but at they're true to their roots!

Dig!

I know I've posted already today but this is probably the best thing ever. Strictly for fans of Dig Dug, the original theatrical trailer. Genius. Does anyone know where I can get the theme music for this from? I'd love it as a ringtone.

Waiting for my Olbermann

Hope this works. Pretty powerful stuff.

More Japanese Drama

It's like something from the movies, but the toilet mystery gripping the Japanese public is far from make believe. Up and down the country's male public WCs, anonymous envelopes have been found with a moderate 10,000 Yen hidden inside, marked simply "remuneration". The twist comes with the fact that the writing has become progressively weaker as the total of 4m Yen (and counting) has been found over the recent months, suggesting that the (presumably) male gifter is suffering from some kind of fatal illness.

The story itself is a nice reminder that good can be done in the world, even in the face of the capitalisation of just about everything. It goes in stark contrast to the local government in Ripley who decided it would only be fair and good to charge people £50 for the use of sandbags in the desperate time just before the floods. Similarly, wellies were going for up to £80 at Glastonbury festival, in line with the appalling weather. Rather than just put their necks out and offer help to those in need, the current state of the world dictates that money be made at every possible oppurtunity. Maybe I'm old fashioned or naive, and will find myself poor in years to come, but I can at least give myself some self respect and feel content that I haven't conned anyone by pinning them into a corner until they pay up. Perhaps the mystery gifter in Japan is feeling guilty for a life lived in such a way, and is repenting by giving something back to the world. Perhaps not. I'd like to just accept that he is making a lot of people slightly happier on a day to day basis, and reaffirming everyone's faith in the human race.