Now this brings back memories; Wikipedia has an entry on calculator spelling, also known as beghilos (after eight of the nine characters you can spell using the upside-down numbers of a calculator). Any male who doesn’t know what 5318008 or 71077345 signifies obviously wasted their childhood maths lessons by actually working instead of writing words on their calculator and sniggering about the fact that they just wrote “boobies” or “Shell oil” (which is infinitely less smutty than “boobies” but still pretty cool when you’re eight years old).

Note that I said “any male”; girls probably spent maths lessons talking about ponies and shit so I wouldn’t expect them to understand the magic of the above numbers.

(Sorry, I must apologise for that rather sexist remark; I think it’s the World Cup bringing out my innate laddishness. Good job I only listened to the England game last night rather than watching it, otherwise who knows what misogynstic depths I might be plumbing right now?)

Anyway, I confidentally predict that the third season of Lost will see a new set of numbers introduced: namely, 5070616 55378008.

Remember where you heard it first.

Here’s a good idea: if you’re going to make smart-arsed references to popular culture in the House of Commons, why not do your research first instead of looking like a tit as Theresa May did on Thursday?

[W]ill the Leader of the House arrange a debate on the influence of popular culture on political life? I am sure that many hon. Members will be saddened to hear about the demise of “Top of the Pops”, which has played such a role in the cultural life of the nation. Of course, pop songs can be very relevant to politics. For example, given the Home Secretary’s recent problems, I wonder whether he should listen to the U2 track “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For”. Perhaps we could have a touch of Dire Straits for the Deputy Prime Minister with the track “Money for Nothing”. I suppose that the Chancellor might look to Diana Ross with “You Keep Me Hangin’ On”. Perhaps the Prime Minister would like the Clash’s “Should I Stay or Should I Go”. Talking of clashes, perhaps the Chancellor would describe his relationship with the Prime Minister with the White Stripes track “Every Day I Love You Less and Less”. Or, given the Chancellor’s commitment to new Labour, maybe his track for him and the Prime Minister should be Elton John’s “Friends Never Say Goodbye”

Spot the deliberate mistake? Iain Wright certainly did:

I should point out to the House that the right hon. Member for Maidenhead (Mrs. May) was incorrect, because “Every Day I Love You Less and Less” is sung by the Kaiser Chiefs rather than the White Stripes, which demonstrates that in popular culture, as in other things, the Conservative party has got it completely wrong. With reference to the right hon. Lady, I am tempted to refer to the Artic Monkeys’ song, “Mardy bum”, but I shall be more gracious, and say, “I bet you look good on the dance floor”.

Ouch. If I was the kind of person to use the word “pwned” then I would say that some pwning definitely occurred.

Still, it could be worse; at least nobody mentioned tossing off over Mrs Thatcher:

Former Tory minister Lord Tebbit has scolded David Cameron for being part of an “obscene” interview about Margaret Thatcher with Jonathan Ross.

The BBC chat show host asked the Tory leader on Friday if he ever had schoolboy sexual fantasies about the former prime minister.

[…]

A BBC spokeswoman said 27 complaints had been received about the programme, with four related to Ross’s interview with Cameron.

Only four? We’re obviously becoming desensitised to the sheer torrent of obscenity the filthy leftist BBC are pouring into our homes each and every day. Bring back the birch!

Well, thank fuck for that. After Billy West’s premature annunciations regarding the future of Futurama, there is now 100% cast-iron confirmation that new episodes will be made:

Three years after Fox canceled the show, Matt Groening’s “Futurama” will resume production for a 13-episode run on Comedy Central. The new episodes will be added to the network’s library of 72 “Futurama” episodes previously licensed from 20th Century Fox Television. Voice talent Billy West, Katey Sagal and John DiMaggio will return for the new episodes, which will debut in 2008.

“There is a deep and passionate fan base for this intelligent and very funny show that matches perfectly with our audience and it is great that we can offer them not just the existing library, but something they’ve never seen as well,” said David Bernath, senior VP, programming, Comedy Central.

Sounds good to me. I’m off to make myself a hot chocolate now so I’ll leave it up to you to think of your own pithy Futurama quote relating to happiness and/or celebration.

Hmm. No time for a “proper” post today I’m afraid, as I’m still trying to catch up with 3 weeks’ worth of blog subscriptions. In the meantime, enjoy this wonderful music video by Japanese rockers Supercar (via The Triforce).

Is it me, or do the CGI bits look like they could be from the best Dreamcast game never released?

tossr returns, and was it worth waiting for?

Well, kinda.

Rather than dive straight back into blogging again, I’ll offer up yet another O! News video from Peter Serafinowicz and pals. This time, the two existing installments have been edited together into one “programme”, with some brand-new material acting as metaphorical glue.

Now, if only they could churn this stuff out a bit quicker; I’d just update tossr whenever a new video is uploaded and never have to put any thought into blogging ever again, just sit back while that sweet Adsense cash comes rolling in… (earnings to date: roughly 5 magic beans’ worth)

Apologies for the lack of posts recently, but it’s been another one of those situations where real life has thrown too many obstacles in the way, hampering my regular blogging schedule. It’s also going to continue getting in the way for the next couple of weeks so there probably won’t be any tossr action going on until the 18th or 19th. I may have time to put the odd entry up but I wouldn’t hold your breath.

Oh. You weren’t. I’m feeling slightly unloved now.