October 31, 2013

Coffee, Tea or Me?


So I heard this story the other day. Apparently, there's this cafe in the city that I live in that has this secret code to hook-up single people. When I first heard about it, I was skeptical. However, I heard about it from someone who was told by some other friends so there is at least some solid legitimacy there.
The story is that there is a cafe here where single people looking for a date (or hook-ups, etc) go for coffee or lunches. What I heard was that a single person sits down and orders at a table or a booth by themselves. Now the secret code for availability is that a potential date would pull out a water bottle. By water bottle, I just mean a regular bottle of drinking water. It could be any brand bottled by a multinational soft drink company, some French Evian or maybe even an Italian San Pelligrino. Now if you were at this cafe to get acquainted, I could imagine that your choice could say something about you since they really have nothing else to base judgement other than appearance.
To me, this is nearly unbelievable. To go into some place and order a drink, such as a tea or coffee, but still bringing your own water, presumably bought somewhere else, seems rude to the owners of the restaurant. According to the legend though, the bottle of water is placed at the edge of the table to indicate potential involvement so it's the most important part of the deal.
I have a million questions about this. Is this true? (I haven't actually ever been there.) Do the owners of the cafe know? (They must have noticed everyone bringing in their own drinks, yet ordering new ones.) How does something like this start? (How are other people supposed to know?) Surely, internet dating is more effective. (But I'm married and have no idea. ... Thinking about it now though, if I was, I'm not convinced that this is a very good matchmaking system. Initially, the only thing that you have in common is that you both drink water.)

September 22, 2013

Pear-shaped

Photo of the actual pear
So we bought these pears the other day and truly realized (when referring to a human body) how the term pear-shaped started. One of them actually had a completely defined fleshy bottom. It was easily the sexiest pear that I have ever seen.


March 11, 2013

Da da da (and other faux lyrics)

So I was listening to some retro music and I noticed and/or remembered some questionable song lyrics. The combinations of 'da', 'de' and 'doo' can (and 'do') replace whole lines of song. While part of me says that this is not trying hard enough when writing songs, there are many songs that would be entirely forgetable without these anti-lyrics. Although these words seem to have the least to say, they end up being the most distinctive and vivid later on.
Examples:

Suzanne Vega (& DNA) - Tom's Diner (1987/1990)
This is a simple folk song (1987) until it was remixed. It was taken apart and put together again with more doo's The original doesn't actually feature any instruments at all. This a cappella version's doo's are at the end of the song as a closing. The remixed version takes the ending makes it the most prominent part of the song, throughout and right from the start.

Crystal Waters - Gypsy Woman (She's Homeless) (1991)
I actually find this song to be slightly irritating. Still, I've always remembered it. The "La da dee, la da da" tune of the chorus might stay with you too.

The Police - De do do do, De da da da (1980)
This song really is a solid example of what I am talking about. The title brings the point home and part of the song implies that these words really do mean nothing: 
"De do do do, de da da da>
Is all I want to say to you
De do do do, de da da da
They're meaningless and all that's true."
Still it's a catchy and recognizable tune with a fun and low-tech video:

Trio - Da da da (1982)
Of all these examples, this is probably my favourite song. The minimalist German band, Trio, sings, "I Don't Love You - You Don't Love Me" in German and their catchy chorus of "Da da da" is another fine example of the non-word lyric. If you've never heard this song before, at least wait to the chorus when he pulls a keyboard out of his pocket. (Seriously!) This main part of the song is reasonably common in television commercials so you may find it familiar.

There's probably others too. There's also the all 'La la la' and 'Na na na' songs that I won't get into. There's even a 'Trololo'!
Even though these faux lyrics aren't actual words, some of these songs say more and are better social commentaries than other more articulate songs. 

February 21, 2013

Small dogs in baskets


So when I was walking home today I passed three different bicycles with tiny pocket dogs in baskets. Is this the new latest trend?