stir crazy

A day working at home and a Friday evening in and I'm going bananas. That's with endless cups of tea, as much crap food as I want, multimedia entertainment opportunities and access to toilet facilities that don't come with soap retrieval requests. How would I cope incarcerated? On this evidence not very well. It is chucking it down outside and this village doesn't offer that much in the way of entertainment but I have decided to go out. I'll stride past the bus stop chavs like I have somewhere to go and the freedom and fresh air should shake me out of this gloom. Just thinking about it makes me realise I'm not nearly grateful enough for my liberty to do pretty much anything I want. Nowhere better epitomises the idea of the right to do whatever the hell you want than America of course. The shift of the US embassy to Battersea despite their website's suggestion that there has been 'consultation' is just one small example of the freedom the US exerts, even in a foreign country. Whether the ambassadors understand irony or not, this freedom is not something enjoyed by a resident of Battersea, Shaker Aamer. I say resident but in fact that's his former address. Since 2001 he's been resident in Guantanamo Bay (not the nice bit) even though he's never been charged with anything and officially cleared. You can read more about him here and here. You have the freedom to do so.

Talking of pies

You'd get a funny look in the US if you asked for a pasty at a football match. Apparently they are nipple covers, I think like the one Janet Jackson wore. A quick bit of research (honestly your honour) revealed that they are favoured by women who want to get an all over tan. It got me thinking about words that are different in the US. Some of them make sense like 'trunk' for 'boot' or even words like 'pussy' which is like 'weed' or 'wimp'. Some are strange though: How did 'vest' get from inside other clothes to outside in its journey across the Atlantic? And how did 'fanny' move from front to back?

Someone has compiled a list on wikipedia. It actually makes for an interesting diversion. Even though most people in the UK will be familiar with these I like the way it's written all seriously by some suspender wearning nerd. (Link)