Spitting Yarn

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So sorry – it’s another meme, but I loved the first question and wanted to see how other people answered it.  So propogate it, I must.

1. Flip to page 18, paragraph 4 in the book closest to you right now, what does it say?

“a distinction is drawn between, for example, a printed book, a book being a manner of manufacture where the only novelty is in the literary content, which it is said cannot on any basis be patentable, and, for example, the first book ever pinted in Braille, which it is said would have been, as at its date, a manner of new manufacture, whatever the nature of the literary content of the work in question.”

(from Terrell on the Law of Patents, Sixteenth Edition)

2. If you stretch out your left arm – as far as possible, what are you touching?

Air. If my arm was super-long, I’d be touching my office mate’s stickyboard, adorned with random pictures and cuttings.

3. What’s the last program you watched on tv?

BBC Breakfast, this morning, but only for about 2 minutes.

4. Without looking, guess what time it is.  

9.50am.  Not bad – it’s actually 9.47am

5. Except the computer, what can you hear right now?

Secretarial chatter, and someone projecting on a conference call.

6. When was the last time you were outside and what did you do?

About an hour ago, walking from the bus stop on Fleet Street to work.

7. What are you wearing?

Black boots, black opaque tights, grey and black wool skirt and a black cashmere, short-sleeved polo neck sweater.

8. Did you dream last night? If you did, what about?

I used to dream frequently and vividly, but I do so (or at least remember doing so) less often, now.  I don’t remember dreaming last night.

9. When was the last time you laughed?

 I chuckled at something a work colleague said about the ‘more is better’ approach taken to prior art by one of our experts.  I suspect the topic is less amusing outside of the patent law field(!)

10. What’s on the walls, in the room you’re in right now?

An empty picture hook, what looks like a small splatter of blood, but which I suspect (hope) is food-derived, two stickyboards laden with randomness.  That’s about it, mainly because 2 of the walls are made of glass.

11. Have you seen anything strange lately?

This isn’t strange, but it’s kind of interesting: I peeped over the shoulder of a City type sitting in front of me on the bus while he was composing a text message.  The message said “Hello.  Last night was fun!  Let me know if you want to meet again and we’ll set something up. X“.  After some thought, he scrolled back and put the word “Gorgeous” after “Hello“!  Having composed the message, he then saved it rather than sending it.

12. What do you think about this meme?

Eh? 

13. What’s the last film you saw? 

At the cinema, it was The Last Kiss.  I’m a Zach Braff fan (or more specifically, a Scrubs fan).  I liked the film and thought it was a great improvement on Garden State, and should resonate with people in their lates 20s/early 30s.

14. If you became a multimillionaire, what would you do with the money?

Under DB’s guidance, I’d invest some of it sensibly so that we could live on the interest/earnings.  I’d give some to my mum and certain friends, buy a house in London (with big windows, a garden and a studio), and a place in the countryside somewhere.  I don’t know about the rest, if I haven’t spent my allocation already!

15. Tell us something about yourself that most people don’t know. 

That’s what *this* is for

16. If you could change ONE THING in this world, without regarding politics or bad guilt – what would it be? 

I’m not sure I entirely understand this, and in any event, these questions always scare me.  I pick something and then realise that without that one thing, civilsation as we know it would cease to exist.  Let’s take an example like getting rid of spiders (which I hate).  Great!  Except that crops would be decimated by insect pests, mosquito and fly populations would swell and spread diseases, and ultimately there would be nothing left for mankind, and the earth would be suffocated by insects - which was not my primary objective.

I vote for the status quo.

17. Do you like dancing? 

I don’t get it!  I find it completely bizarre that people want to stand in an open space and flail their limbs about to music.  I love music, and occasionally get overtaken by the need to tap my feet or bob up and down a little, but that’s as far as it goes. 

18. George Bush?

He bugs Gore

19. What do you want your children’s names to be, girl/boy?

For some reason, it feels like bad luck to disclose these prior to the event.  Let’s say I like a girl’s name beginning with “I”, and a boy’s name beginning with “S”.

20. Would you ever consider living abroad? 

I would.  I’d like to come back to the UK, ultimately, though.

21. What do you want God to tell you, when you come to heaven? 

As an atheist, I’d be mighty surprised if he told me anything.

22. Who should do this meme?

Anyone who wants to.  I’d encourage everyone to answer number 1, at least, though.  I want to know what’s on page 18 at paragraph 4 of your book!

Effortful blogging will resume shortly.