For these I decided to go with PhpBB forums because after using them for work, I find them just as cool as Vbulletin forums (which I also use at work) and the administrative side of it just seems a bit more user-friendly to me. Plus I need testing grounds for my work forums. Oh and PhpBB is absolutely free. All you need is server space that includes PHP/MYSQL and away you go.

So now I need victims-err users for the forum. On my old ones (which were graciously hosted by a guy called Shawn that I know here in town), I had a bunch of Placebo refugees from when that forum went down, and they used it occasionally, which was nice. Maybe some will come back. But if I put a notice up about it on the Silver Rocket forum I might piss off my friend Dee who runs that forum, so best not. Ah well, good old word-of-mouth I suppose. So if you're reading this, go join and post for the hell of it and make me happy.

My sister called me last night just as I was falling asleep (I swear, time zones mean nothing to the girl) because she was having technical problems with her computer at work. Now, the thing most people, such as Kelly, or co-workers here at the hospital don't realise is that I am not very good at fixing technical problems. I design web pages. I'm pretty efficient with most graphics programs, MS Office suite stuff and things like that. I can teach you how to add masks and filters to an image or to merge an Excel graph into a Word document, but if your monitor has gone wonky and are seeing mirror-images of your task bar then I'm just as clueless as you are. Most people can't seem to understand that. I only mention all of this because I don't want anyone to be disappointed when they come to me to fix their computer and I end up scratching my head and randomly clicking things hoping it will fix itself. Technical geek stuff and I do not mix. Design/creative-ness, that's my thang. So Kelly, if it goes wonky again, don't call me :) Thanks babe, love ya.

Anyway I’m going to pop some of the urls for these gadgets in here and let you, my devoted reader, be as amazed as I am. Chickie – pay special attention to the refrigerator with a flippin’ modem.

This first one I think my daughter would kill for. She’s forever wishing we had a robot to do the housework (well, so am I to be quite honest) and I think a robot vacuum cleaner is a step in the right direction. http://www.roombavac.com/ sells for about $200 and will hoover for around 75 minutes depending on the size of the room – it even has sensors to get around obstacles. Now I only have $499,800 left.

This next one is pure yum, and think of the money saved on Ben & Jerry’s! It’s called an Arctic Twister and you basically make your own DQ Blizzards they way YOU want them done. And it’s Cheap! 65 bucks and you’re in ice cream heaven. http://www.arctictwister.com/index.jsp?media=BND. I’m now at $499,735.

Ohhhh make sure you’re sitting down for the next one: An Internet Refrigerator (Are you sitting down Kat?). What’s that you say? An Internet fridge is ridiculous? Bah. Not this one. This sucker’s got a 15-inch touchscreen, camera, speakers, and a modem port. You can order groceries online, watch a cooking demo and send email! A geek’s idea of heaven! http://www.lgappliances.com/. And a bargain at only $8000! So I’m still ok at $491,735.

To go along with that you can get a flip down a touch screen from under your cupboard that stores recipes or even use it to look up recipes from a cooking CD or website, then forward them to your friends and relatives. A mere $2,995 bringing my total to $488,740. http://www.iceboxllc.com/flipscreen/index.html.

Wheeee this is fun :)

If you’re like me and leave dishes stacked in the sink overnight you can still do that, pop a lid over them and have ‘em washed for you :) It’s a stainless steel double sink that converts to a dishwasher. How freakin’ perfect is that?? http://www.kitchenaid.com/briva/briva.htmls and only $2,499. Not too shabby. I’m now down to $486,241.

Ohhh my gawd. Right so this is definitely a must: A La Scala jacuzzi tub that seats two, that comes complete with a 42-inch plasma screen telly. It plays CDs and DVDs, is cable ready, has a floating remote control, and I think if you ask it nicely, it might make you some toast. It’s a bit pricey but what the hell. $31,000 is worth it if you can watch the Simpsons AND wash your hair at the same time. http://www.jacuzzi.com/products/baths/private/la_scala72.htm. I have GOT to get me one of those. $455,241 left to play with.

This, I think I’d get just for the hell of it. It’s a showerhead that also bathes you in light. Fun fun and only $3500. That leaves me with $451,751. http://ondineshowers.com.

Regarding films, I've always been one to watch movies I love more than once or twice. In fact, I'll often watch them a multitude of times. I'm also not a very patient person. So when something like Lord of the Rings or Attack of the Clones comes out - something I've been dying to see - then yes, I will download it, but AFTER I've already paid to see it in the cinema. I will also be forking over a ton of cash to buy the DVD (and even tho it irks me a little, I'll be buying that damn 4-disc set of LOTR that comes out tomorrow, even though I've already bought the original DVD the day that one came out). So why should I wait months and months for the DVD to come out when i can download it and watch it to my heart's content if I'm still forking out the cash for seeing it in the cinema and buying the DVDs?

As for tunes, well it's always been my policy that I will not buy an album if I don't like at least three songs from it. MP3s make that easier to do. So the way i see it, the record industry has a better shot at getting me to buy a whole album if they'd make the MP3s available. Yes I know there are those out there who would abuse the privilege (and do so on a daily basis) but hmmm, if CDs cost less than dinner for four at a decent restaurant, people might be so abusive. I used to argue here that you're not just paying for the cost of the materials but also for the artist's work, creativity etc and that if I were an author, and my publisher charged cost for my blood, sweat and tears I'd be pretty pissed off. However the book industry is not as exorbitant as the record industry and most bands make their money from touring and merchandising anyway.

I know there are plenty of arguments against downloading film and music. I've heard plenty, and after hearing them, I've drawn the conclusions above and I'm sticking to them.

Anyone got Harry Potter yet?