Has this already been posted? LotR musical fails to impress theatre critics:

Most reviewers said the show, which runs to almost four hours, did not live up to expectations.

The Toronto Star described it as "dull", while the Toronto Sun said it "falls victim to its own hype".

The New York Times critic Ben Brantley said it was "largely incomprehensible".

"No-one emerges with head unmuddled, eyes unblurred or eardrums unrattled," he wrote.

"Yet for all the technology, the show's look is often reminiscent of an arts and crafts fair."

The UK's Daily Telegraph called it "insufferably twee". It said: "It just goes to prove that you can't always solve a problem by chucking money at it."

"It just goes to prove that you can't always solve a problem by chucking money at it."

Heh. Too true. Unless the problem is me.

So here's my stupid help desk call of the day:

Apparently a director from one of our outlying sites is coming in to our corporate office on Monday. I got a call from the Administrative Assistant there asking if IT had a loaner laptop we could setup for the director to use while he was on-site. I asked her "Doesn't he have a laptop of his own?"

Her: "He does, but he doesn't like to carry it."

WTF?!?!?

::huffs ground coffee::

The NPR at the Movies podcast I last listened to had a think on the LotR musical which was really annoying. And they used the movie music, despite the piece not being at all about the flicks.

Apparently I was grumpy then too.

::huffs more coffee::

I got a call from the Administrative Assistant there asking if IT had a loaner laptop we could setup for the director to use while he was on-site. I asked her "Doesn't he have a laptop of his own?"

Her: "He does, but he doesn't like to carry it."

You should have asked, "So... does he need a laptop for each place he's going to sit?"

You should have asked, "So... does he need a laptop for each place he's going to sit?"

It took everything I had not to ask if he was deficient and just politely tell her "I'll find out if we have anything."

Kalshane, that sounds like it came straight from the Computerworld Shark Tank.

Beer spa:

The converted cellars include seven huge baths inspired by Victorian design where guests can swim in beer while sipping a pint at a bathside bar.

For a £80 (R880) weekend package, guests can indulge in a range of health treatments such as beer wraps, starting at £12 (about R132) per session.

The spa's owner, Jiri Plevka, said: "Beer can treat a range of conditions, particularly skin conditions, and the health centre should appeal to men who are put off by 'posh' traditional spas.

"I have heard of some places in other countries where people can swim in beer but it's just a gimmick.

"We believe in the healing properties of beer and we offer the full range of treatments. We are a fully-fledged beer spa."

I finally won the battle I was fighting with my system half of yesterday and all of today so I am leaving the office quickly before another challenge presents itself.

I declare it a weekend!

Daisy Jane - if you're around drop me a note to my profile addy. I'll put my phone # in there too. Tks.

If you go here [link] you can see a countdown for the launch of the SpaceX Falcon 1 rocket. Since this is the first launch of a new, inexpensive launch system, I figure there's a good chance for spectacular failure.

There is also a link to a video webcast, so you can watch any pretty explosions live.

Curerntly there's 30 minutes to launch.