Friday October 31st, 2003
dg.com / 2003 / 10
[glaring lack of opening salutation]
Thanks for your e-mail . This product has been discontinued.
Consumer preferences do change from time to time and as a
major manufacturer it is important that Cadbury maintain a
wide range of products that meet consumer demands. There are no
plans to re-introduce this product in the immediate future, but
there is a chance that you may see it again at some time.
Thanks again for your E-mail.
Charlie W
Consumer Relations
Now if you read between those lines like I do...there's a desparate plea to start a massive campaign to "SAVE THE WISPAS!"
While currently there are major grassroots campaigns underway in UK against the Iraqi occupation and "top-up fees" for Universities...I feel much more compelled to head up the WLF...or Wispa Liberation Front. I think this is a pressing issue who's time has come, and I will need your help.
Phase 1 will consist of a write-in and email campaign to Cadbury, if you'd like to help with this you can get contact info here:Contact Cadbury and massive lobbying campaign to British MPs asking them to create regulations requiring the reproduction of Wispas.I don't know who this Charlie W person is but he is obviously on our side but under close scrutiny from the Captains of Industry over at Cadbury's and must be careful with what he says...but I feel that we can count on his support from the inside.
Phase B (I switch to lettering from numbering so it will be trickier for corporate spies to follow) will consist of massive uprisings in the streets and factories if our demands are not met. To help in implementing this phase I hope to link up with leaders of the aforementioned other grassroots efforts.
Phase 4 (trickier still, skipping a phase) will consist of an overthrow of the evil capitalist government that has allowed the discontinuation of Wispas and replacing it with a Communist regime that will provide all faithful proles with a daily wispa ration.
With your help I think we can make a difference and stop the evil oppression of Wispas. Thanks and have a wonderful day.
Ok...I should probably get back to work now, before the capitalist overlords notice I'm gone.
Other than that, I've had my first classes...man there's a crap load of reading and going to the stupid library. For someone who went to the library once a semester undergrad its going to be a bit of an adjustment, but I'm sure I'll manage. I've ordered a few of the "key" texts so that should help a bit, and so far I don't have to present for a few weeks, so plenty of time to prepare.
Other than that I'm just getting ready for some swimming (man that's going to hoit, sorry I mean be fun).
I was quite surprised to get here and find that there are actually very few British people (I think I've met about 6 that are postgrad), of course had I thought about it, it makes sense as most postgrad programs back home are largely made up of foreigners. I'm still working out what to cook in a kitchen shared by 13 people, or even where to put my dern food, hopefully those things will be sorted soon though. More or less though everythings great here, I do miss everyone back home and Wendy's like, but going to the chippy round midnight is pretty good too.
That brings up another surprising point...most pubs here close by 11, and usually those that stay open can't let people in after then. This usually means we just bring it back to the halls or have a relatively early night (which is good when classes actually do start). Yeah, other than that I've looked into a couple societies, writing for the newspaper, and joining the swimteam (and a brief flirtation with rugby until I watched a game). I went to a debate last night at the Durham Union Society, it was an interesting experience. The debate was about whether or not the UK is the US's "lapdog". The speakers were really good I thought, there was an MP, the Former ambassador to the US, and various other smart types. The society itself seemed a bit overposh to me, the President wears big robes and all the officers wear tuxedos and sit in funny chairs. I was just waiting for the paddles and levels to come out. I guess I'll get used to it, just a bit unexpected from what I saw in the brochure (but then its never like the brochure now is it).
Oh and also there was the incident the first week where I took a bit of a fall down by the riverside. I managed to stay out of the river but did get a nasty gash in my butt, making walking for the next several days real fun. Good news is its better now, especially considering how much walking I do here (I miss my good ole Honda).
On a final note, I've spent most of the early afternoon uploading pictures so go check them out. Follow the link on the left down below for pictures ( a witty title I know).
Tuesday October 28th, 2003
Save the Wispas
In a bit of sad news...I got a response from Cadbury's regarding my inquiry into "Wispas" (quite possibly the best candy bar ever in my opinion). That went as follows:[glaring lack of opening salutation]
Thanks for your e-mail . This product has been discontinued.
Consumer preferences do change from time to time and as a
major manufacturer it is important that Cadbury maintain a
wide range of products that meet consumer demands. There are no
plans to re-introduce this product in the immediate future, but
there is a chance that you may see it again at some time.
Thanks again for your E-mail.
Charlie W
Consumer Relations
Now if you read between those lines like I do...there's a desparate plea to start a massive campaign to "SAVE THE WISPAS!"
While currently there are major grassroots campaigns underway in UK against the Iraqi occupation and "top-up fees" for Universities...I feel much more compelled to head up the WLF...or Wispa Liberation Front. I think this is a pressing issue who's time has come, and I will need your help.
Phase 1 will consist of a write-in and email campaign to Cadbury, if you'd like to help with this you can get contact info here:Contact Cadbury and massive lobbying campaign to British MPs asking them to create regulations requiring the reproduction of Wispas.I don't know who this Charlie W person is but he is obviously on our side but under close scrutiny from the Captains of Industry over at Cadbury's and must be careful with what he says...but I feel that we can count on his support from the inside.
Phase B (I switch to lettering from numbering so it will be trickier for corporate spies to follow) will consist of massive uprisings in the streets and factories if our demands are not met. To help in implementing this phase I hope to link up with leaders of the aforementioned other grassroots efforts.
Phase 4 (trickier still, skipping a phase) will consist of an overthrow of the evil capitalist government that has allowed the discontinuation of Wispas and replacing it with a Communist regime that will provide all faithful proles with a daily wispa ration.
With your help I think we can make a difference and stop the evil oppression of Wispas. Thanks and have a wonderful day.
Ok...I should probably get back to work now, before the capitalist overlords notice I'm gone.
Saturday October 25th, 2003
I think I've been in Britain too long. The other day I wore my socks with my flip-flops. In my defense it was just to go to the bathroom (and I do still call it the bathroom not the w.c. or toilet), not to go out or anything. As I did it though, I knew it could be just one step down a slippery slope (Mr. Monte would be proud I actually remembered something from APUSH). Next thing you know I'm going to be wearing my socks with sandals constantly, not wearing my cap, and expounding on the benefits of a Universal National Health Service. Maybe I should order all the "Power of Pride" stickers I can and a nice Stars and Stripes Jacket [link broken] to wear all the time to counteract the effects. Wait that might work too well, I'll probably absorb whatever chemical it is that they put on that crap that makes you think that George W. Bush is actually a good President. Ahh...well I guess I'll just have to make sure I don't go for the flip-flop/sock combo anywhere but my hall.
In other news, I think I've spent more time in Durham University Library studying this week than I did in my entire career at NC State. I don't know if this is due to the leap to grad school or just the difference in educational systems but either way it kinda sucks (actually I'm kinda a dork and actually interested in the stuff so it's not all that bad). It's going to be even more time spent there this week as I will be doing my first presentation. It's also of course in the class taught by my program director and I'll be the first one to go in that class (can you sense my excitement). My presentations going to be awesome though...It's on the cold war, and while I haven't been able to track down an atom bomb costume yet, I'm workin' on it.
In other news, I think I've spent more time in Durham University Library studying this week than I did in my entire career at NC State. I don't know if this is due to the leap to grad school or just the difference in educational systems but either way it kinda sucks (actually I'm kinda a dork and actually interested in the stuff so it's not all that bad). It's going to be even more time spent there this week as I will be doing my first presentation. It's also of course in the class taught by my program director and I'll be the first one to go in that class (can you sense my excitement). My presentations going to be awesome though...It's on the cold war, and while I haven't been able to track down an atom bomb costume yet, I'm workin' on it.
Sunday October 19th, 2003
As much as I love John Edwards...I think I may have to change my vote for President. It's been a long time since American has seen as quality a candidate as... this.
Sunday October 19th, 2003
I think winter has officially arrived for us because the last couple of days have been "frickin' freezing" up here. I went out to watch my college crush St. John's College at football, (3-1, with the game clinching goal from my friend Anthony with 5 to go) and learned that I may need to invest in some warmer clothing as I was dressed in my warmest stuff and still was bloody cold. Last night was quite good also, we went out to the Howlands bar to support Katie in her first Durham DJ gig. Some people may be shocked to hear that I actually went up and talked to girls I didn't know (with some encouragement of course, liquid and otherwise), and didn't do too bad mingling . I also danced , and found that the sprinkler is just as well recieved here as back home :).
In other news the first week of classes went well, my biggest class is about 15 people and my other two are about 8, so we get to know everyone pretty well. My Profs all seem really good (I was expecting very old formal, stuffy brits) and I'm excited to actually be back at school. It's a bit of a change to have to actually do some reading and not bs my way through then cram at the end of term, but with one week down I'm actually not too far behind and should be on schedule in time for class on Tuesday morning (as BJ has observed though, I'm always pretty good the first few weeks).
In other news the first week of classes went well, my biggest class is about 15 people and my other two are about 8, so we get to know everyone pretty well. My Profs all seem really good (I was expecting very old formal, stuffy brits) and I'm excited to actually be back at school. It's a bit of a change to have to actually do some reading and not bs my way through then cram at the end of term, but with one week down I'm actually not too far behind and should be on schedule in time for class on Tuesday morning (as BJ has observed though, I'm always pretty good the first few weeks).
Saturday October 18th, 2003
1. Chocolate fudge (the kind from the back left wall of the little covered area, where they make it fresh)
2. The Ferris Wheel (the smaller one that works, not the big one that's always broken when you wanna go on)
3. The Pig Races
4. The NC Pork Council BarBeQue tent
5. The 4H and other cultural presentations
6. Did I mention the chocolate fudge
7. The Tractor Pull
8. Funnel Cake
9. Getting the Balls to try a Deep-Fat-Fried Oreo/Twinkie and the heart attack later that night
10. The "Village of years past" or whatever it is they call it where people sell handmade stuff and wear silly costumes (strangley mostly mountain folk)
11. That game with the ducks (oh wait no I hate that stupid game)
12. Meg Scott-Phipps being indicted for Campaign Funding Violations
Yes this year I get to miss out on all the fun that is the North Carolina State Fair. I think this and the LotR marathon are the things that make me homesick the most (and friends/family and all that stuff), not that I'm all that homesick don't worry.
2. The Ferris Wheel (the smaller one that works, not the big one that's always broken when you wanna go on)
3. The Pig Races
4. The NC Pork Council BarBeQue tent
5. The 4H and other cultural presentations
6. Did I mention the chocolate fudge
7. The Tractor Pull
8. Funnel Cake
9. Getting the Balls to try a Deep-Fat-Fried Oreo/Twinkie and the heart attack later that night
10. The "Village of years past" or whatever it is they call it where people sell handmade stuff and wear silly costumes (strangley mostly mountain folk)
11. That game with the ducks (oh wait no I hate that stupid game)
12. Meg Scott-Phipps being indicted for Campaign Funding Violations
Yes this year I get to miss out on all the fun that is the North Carolina State Fair. I think this and the LotR marathon are the things that make me homesick the most (and friends/family and all that stuff), not that I'm all that homesick don't worry.
Tuesday October 14th, 2003
Liquor on the Internet
In an even more exciting development today...thanks to the wonder that is Katie, we're ordering our groceries online and getting them delivered to our door. The exciting thing about this is that British supermarkets carry a wide variety of liquor. So you can go online and shop for liquor by type...how freaking awesome is that...ABC of North Carolina kiss my butt with your evil monopoly (although it is cheaper there). Other exciting discoveries, The George Foreman Grill is readily available in the UK and they have these things called a snowflake ... which is a flake but white choclate, those that know me and white choclate and what a flake is can understand why this is so exciting. In sad news...they don't have gatorade, and since I had a bad experience with powerade in hospital I dunno what to drink for emergency rehydration, I guess I'll have to try one of their other crazy brands. And on a funny note Dannon here is Danone...dunno which is the original or what, just think thats funny. And for those of you keeping count this isn't complaining because the good outweighs the bad so I'm still lovin' it here. Hope everyone is good back home.Tuesday October 14th, 2003
Watching Movies till your eyes bleed
Well I heard today that there's an Italian student here at Durham attempting to get into the Guiness book of world records for longest time spent watching movies consecutively. He has solicited for people to support and join him and I have to admit I'm very tempted. I mean Me, BJ, and Dustin talked about watching movies till we went insane a number of different times so maybe this would be some good practice. Amazingly (to me at least) the record is around 35 hours...somehow I thought it would be much longer, however I'm sure it will be long enough if I actually try, especially considering my propensity for taking light "cat naps". I bet if I consume enough cadbury's chocolate and soda though, I can stay awake easy. I think I'm going to try with ole Fabrizio here, then again with the boys when I get back to the States. It's going to be awesome, if you wanna join in...well just Holla Back.Other than that, I've had my first classes...man there's a crap load of reading and going to the stupid library. For someone who went to the library once a semester undergrad its going to be a bit of an adjustment, but I'm sure I'll manage. I've ordered a few of the "key" texts so that should help a bit, and so far I don't have to present for a few weeks, so plenty of time to prepare.
Other than that I'm just getting ready for some swimming (man that's going to hoit, sorry I mean be fun).
Sunday October 12th, 2003
I never appreciated how far 500 miles was to really walk for someone until I moved to Durham.
Saturday October 11th, 2003
I'm Back
Well after yet another prolonged absense I am back once again (both people who still read this rejoice). With my triumphal return with a regular internet connection I can now regale you all with my experiences here on the island next to the Emerald one. Having completed registration yesterday (which was started on Tuesday), I'm now an official student with an ID (complete with bad picture). Of course I have yet to attend a class as apparently none of my lecturers wanted to have class the first week (not that I'm complaining too much). So the week has largely been taken up with administrative BS, job hunting, and most importantly going out to the pubs and clubs. I've been very fortunate that I've linked up with a great group of people from my building. It's amazing what a difference finding good friends can make, and what a crew a Yank, an Aussie, and two Brits are.I was quite surprised to get here and find that there are actually very few British people (I think I've met about 6 that are postgrad), of course had I thought about it, it makes sense as most postgrad programs back home are largely made up of foreigners. I'm still working out what to cook in a kitchen shared by 13 people, or even where to put my dern food, hopefully those things will be sorted soon though. More or less though everythings great here, I do miss everyone back home and Wendy's like, but going to the chippy round midnight is pretty good too.
That brings up another surprising point...most pubs here close by 11, and usually those that stay open can't let people in after then. This usually means we just bring it back to the halls or have a relatively early night (which is good when classes actually do start). Yeah, other than that I've looked into a couple societies, writing for the newspaper, and joining the swimteam (and a brief flirtation with rugby until I watched a game). I went to a debate last night at the Durham Union Society, it was an interesting experience. The debate was about whether or not the UK is the US's "lapdog". The speakers were really good I thought, there was an MP, the Former ambassador to the US, and various other smart types. The society itself seemed a bit overposh to me, the President wears big robes and all the officers wear tuxedos and sit in funny chairs. I was just waiting for the paddles and levels to come out. I guess I'll get used to it, just a bit unexpected from what I saw in the brochure (but then its never like the brochure now is it).
Oh and also there was the incident the first week where I took a bit of a fall down by the riverside. I managed to stay out of the river but did get a nasty gash in my butt, making walking for the next several days real fun. Good news is its better now, especially considering how much walking I do here (I miss my good ole Honda).
On a final note, I've spent most of the early afternoon uploading pictures so go check them out. Follow the link on the left down below for pictures ( a witty title I know).