Today is WORLD METEOROLOGICAL DAY. But I'm betting Ernie Baron already knows that.

with pain comes pleasure
Ordinarily, I would take umbrage at being referred to as "Nikita the Chiquitita" (as Jason did in a recent email), but right now I'm too exhausted. I had my first class at Gold's Gym and nearly killed myself learning street dance. It was fun, though, despite my serious doubts that anyone actually dances like that on any street anywhere. Now I know how to do 'the grapevine', which is not a massive achievement, but considering that my previous idea of exercise was (a) getting up to change the CD or (b) purely horizontal in nature, it's a milestone.


in the news today
A Romanian man named Adrian Ionut Craciunoiu lodged an official complaint with the consumer protection office in Gorj, accusing a local prostitute of not doing her best. Although prostitution is illegal in Romania, Craciunoiu filed his case anyway, saying that: "She... even scratched me because she (was missing) some of her teeth. I was honest with her and paid in advance, but what did I get? Bad service and even lesions."


Maybe she was trying to pronounce his name...

TRIVIA QUIZ
What's the scariest thing you never really wanted to know about black pepper?


answer to yesterday's question
I posted this one because people have asked me to clarify, and it's hard to explain briefly. But here goes: In the Second Age of Middle-Earth, Elendil ruled from the northern realm of Arnor as High King of both Arnor and Gondor. His sons, Isildur and Anarion, co-ruled jointly; but with the death of all three of them during and just after the war against Sauron, Menedil, Anarion's son, became king of Gondor, while Valandil, Isildur's son, became king of Arnor. Although the next ten or so rulers of Arnor continued to style themselves 'High King', the two kingdoms were in fact run quite separately.


In the Third Age, Artheduin, one of the three kingdoms that comprised Arnor, was conquered by Angmar (whose Witch-King eventually came to lead the Nazgul). Although the allied forces of Gondor and Arnor managed to defeat Angmar at last, the northern kingdom fell into decline, notwithstanding the continuation of the royal line, which eventually managed to produce Aragorn II, that scruffy guy we all know and love. Aragorn didn't come into the picture until the Fourth Age, by which time Menedil's heirs had died off, thereby allowing Aragorn to claim the throne by right of heritage and one honkin' big army.


Curunirs (meaning 'cunning' or 'crafty ones'): Ron, Alex, Gabby, and Amie. Curunir Trouser-Wearers: Ron, Vin, and Angela. I'm tired of trying to remember y'all's links, so I ain't doin' that no more.