Hello 
I'm Siobhan Curran/Kisa Naumova, and this is my weblog. I tend to write about stuff like crossdressing, Macs, code, cats, wine and Second Life, but in general it's just an ongoing conversation about all sorts of stuff. If you'd like to know a little bit more about what this all is, I recommend starting on this page which has a little bit of info on who I am, and what I'm trying to do — or you could dive into my five years worth of archives if you like.
Otherwise, feel free to close this box and explore...
Guilty Pleasures #1
I know, it's bad. But you just can't beat them
(Just as an aside, for years I've called them "Q-Tips", to the confusion of everyone I've met in England. Imagine my *joy* when I discovered that's exactly what Amiee calls them.)
Not in your own ear at least. No rules about others.
Okey dokey, the rule is you can stick anything in anybody else's ear as long as it's not your elbow?
Exactly. Its often considered rude to stick your elbow in somebody else's ear.
Q-Tips is the brand name. 
What, precisely would you call them if not Q-Tips?
@Natalie: Over here they are called cotton buds.
@Paula: I shall be watching where you put your elbows when next we meet!
I've always thought of them as Q-tips too, as that was what my mum used to call them every time I thought she was going to burst my eardrum with one!
Wasn't there a band called the Q-tips that did that song about eating toast?
Yep! Paul Youngs old band. Toast was a b-side I believe and I often find myself humming it.
Useless fact of the day:
Paul Young added my band on MySpace the other day, rather randomly..
According to his profile, he's apparently now running a music download site called Etopia Music and is about to release an album of covers of classic rock and pop songs backed by a swing style jazz big band.
Those of us who remember his version of Love Will Tear Us Apart will... oh god, I can't finish this sentence. It's too depressing.
(Having now pulled myself together a bit).
Of course, I'd have argued for a more trad jazz backing to that particular track (Love Will Tear Us Apart) because there's clearly room for a killer cornet solo fluttering high above Paul's crooning.
But sod it, I can live with big band.
Just for Paul.
An anonymous coward
oh dear that was me.
Ah, but the thing is, this isn't me replacing a noun with a brand name, like "can you give me a kleenex?" When I say Q-Tip, I mean that I want Q-Tips — the best ones on the market with the extra cotton on the end that doesn't come off when you twirl them. It's a very specific preference, because I am a nerd and hate the cheap ones.
That picture is actually good. 
I like it, a lot. I'd ask for a big-ish, framed and signed version, but frankly — it also scares me.
You're a fine artist, Siobhan!
Carolyn Ann
PS I'd pay, too. But it scares me.
LMAO at all the Paul Young stuff. I had quite a crush on him, more years ago than I care to admit to
The cheap ones hurt!
@Carolyn Ann — I agree. I think the part that feels uncomfortable when I look at it is that they feel upside down to me. If I had a print of this, I'd hang it with the tips up, maybe. On the other hand, the fact that it makes me uncomfortable is exactly what I like about it.
@Thaumata: Definitely. It's good — because it has an emotional impact. But it's not sentimental; in fact, it's quite the opposite! And I can't say exactly what it is that makes me uncomfortable; the nebulous nature of it is, to not "sound" trite, quite exact. (Which might seem, and indeed, is contrarian!)
It's quite captivating. And not a little haunting!
@Siobhan: I was just reading about copyright of pictures in the US (some photography magazine; I'll see if I can find out which one, tomorrow). You can register the US copyright electronically, apparently. Might I be so bold to recommend you spend some small amount of time doing that? If someone claims it as theirs, you can sue — for a maximum of $150,000 per something or other. (Apparently the awards are usually 10% of that). Still, with a picture this good — you can be sure someone, somewhere will want to steal it!
Maybe the UK has a similar process; it'll probably cover Europe, too.
If you need it, I'll look up the website address; again, tomorrow.
Carolyn Ann
I like the ones you can ride like a hoverboard...
The cheap ones just bend when I put them in my ear!
Nagai
Sorry, Siobhan. I looked, but I couldn't find that magazine in the Barnes & Noble I was in today.
Carolyn Ann
@ Paula007 and Phoenix: Q-Tip was also the name of one of the members of classic hip-hop group, A Tribe Called Quest. End of barely-relevant piece of trivia...
Great! Now i have 'Can I kick it?' on a loop in my head! Thanks Luis 
Yes you can!
Nagai
So, these are like those cotton wool buds youre not meant to stick in your ears?