I walk safe in big blue arms and sleep beneath the missile's charm.

• The business world selects for psychopathy.

• But can you get baby-sized New Rocks?

• The sordid truth about Linux.

• Nerd Attention Deficit Disorder.

• Revealed at last: why Microsoft Word files aren't even compatible with the same version of Word on a different PC, let alone OpenOffice et al.

Two pints at lunch with arkady. In Knightsbridge, but the pub approved the mortgage for my purchase. These brightened my otherwise work-encumbered afternoon.

(We have in fact been sold. Since the customer's contract is with our previous owners, we are being subcontracted back to the outsourcer for continuity and site knowledge. 'Site knowledge' being one of those things that disproves the value of outsourcing, which supposedly works by commodification of function. I'm sure this all makes sense to someone. The office is all aflutter and there's a notable lack of hoots for the giving.)

Then to the Dev with arkady, who bought art fodder from The Works in Camden and had been sitting in the pub for a while drawing mousegirls at war with catgirls, and redcountess, who bought shiny new Sensible Shoes for bouncing at work. Howdy to darkgoblin at the next table. ali_anarres and duranorak showed up, as did erzibet and (I think) spooky_tish out to enjoy an evening of serious alcoholic destruction (and then androktone, teqkiller and muftak - I'm sure I've missed someone). I was reduced to a puddle by redcountess, arkady and duranorak conspiring to discover all the Diva's on-switches. Oh, the angst of the briar patch!

May I just say here that, contrary to erroneous opinion such as her own, duranorak is stunningly, jaw-droppingly beautiful. She'd be beautiful even were she dull and boring, but, being neither, she is dazzling. Tall, stately, proof of the existence of bouncy elegance, eyes glowing with enthusiasm, amazing hair, good hands, a very special smile ... and she squeaks so well. Emily is utterly sweet, and one day she will learn to appreciate herself.

(I'm now imagining Duranorak Barbie: covered in bruises and scratches, but with a big grin.)

What I need to please me is an evening in a nice pub with nice people and something drinkable. Today was a good day.

My back may well be forgiving me.

• The alt.gothic of old is not dead. It really did just up roots and move to LJ.

• John Foxx Tour Diary, by liz_lowlife of Swarf.

This morning I accompanied redcountess to her smear test. (Every two years, girls!) On the way back, we stopped at the office furniture place in Hoe Street that blaadyblah had spotted. The guy tried to sell me the most expensive things in the shop (including some rather fine Herman Miller products ... oh, baybee), but of course it was one of the cheapest items that I sat in and my back sang to me like a choir of angels. Fifty-five pounds for the chair, five for the taxi home and another ten for the arms (in stock some time next week). THIS IS A JOYOUS DAY!

arkady popped over for the afternoon, after having had cause to curse the River Fleet. I ended up falling asleep while she and Liz conspired over what DVDs to add to the wish list. We have purchased a DVD player that is arriving Tuesday. I think we've done our consumerist dash for this month.

arkady has just gone home. I'm off to St. Albans tomorrow afternoon. May or may not Dev first.