Civilians reported killed by military intervention in Iraq

Minimum: 65411

Maximum: 71665

[I have not posted any numbers since February. Very depressing to see the huge jump of 10,000+ people. I hate this fucking government.]

Source: iraqbodycount.net

The briefest of respites

As of Friday, for the first time since about 8 May, I have no translations pending. This state of affairs will, of course, not last and I do, however also have two assignments due for school in the next week and a half. Nevertheless, only having a sword from one area of my life dangling over my head has filled me with a sense of relief and relaxation that I'd forgotten existed. I've been treating myself a bit these past two days, girding up my loins for the next big push. I've taken myself out for a curry menu del día. I've gone over to Sam and Josue's for a nice evening with the fam (now numbering two munchkins) along with Séamus and Aisling. Emma's very belated birthday present was opened; Sam, Henny and Helen's newly released high-school level EFL coursebook was admired (link to come, Cambridge site not working), hide 'n' seek was played (in which I discovered that I just don't fit into as small places as I used to), chatting was chatted, Séamus's Web site was looked at, a variety of drinks were drunk, delicious chili was enjoyed, and chocolate mousse cake ditto.

Today I've slept in, more or less, and made myself heaps of lovely French toast (with maple syrup!) for breakfast, which I ate while watching the first episode of the BBC's Wives and Daughters (screenplay by Sarah with an H's uncle).

Am now being crawled all over by a cat who thinks it's lunchtime, and catching up on Internets stuff and FINALLY sending out invoices for the past two months' translation work. The new agency I'm working for is a bit all over the place with their method of sending, billing and supplying job numbers, so it's a nightmare to do the invoice. Today's project is to sort out an efficient system that will not make me crazy with fiddliness.

Also, work continues on the great VHS conversion project, which is a big headache, but will be nice when it's finished.

CLIII

December 2004
Sgt. Damien T. Ficek 26 [Pullman, WA - WA Army Nat'l Guard]
Lance Cpl. Jason E. Smith 21

January 2005
Lance Cpl. Brian P. Parrello 19
Spc. Jeff LeBrun 21
Sgt. Thomas E. Houser 22
Pfc. Curtis L. Wooten III 20 [Spanaway, WA]
Sgt. Bennie J. Washington 25
Spc. Jeremy W. McHalffey 28 [Arkansas Army Nat'l Guard]
Spc. Joshua S. Marcum 33 [Arkansas Army Nat'l Guard]
Pvt. Cory R. Depew 21

Source: CNN.com

Contractors and Journalists, January 2005

Contractors killed January 2005
Andrew Whyte, British security contractor
unknown security contractor
Ibrahim Mohammed Isamail, Egyptian truckdriver
Nick Pears, British security contractor
John Dolman, British security contractor
Tracy Hushin, American financial manager
unknown British citizen

Source: icasualties.org

Proposal

Up late working (how unusual of me!) and waiting for Wheylona to arrive on zee bus from SanSe, when much to my surprise... Well I ain't never done got one of those marriage proposal things afore now, and now I get spammed with one, to wit:

Contestame si estas interesada en mi

proposición de vida marital conmigo

en Paris en tu vida actual, unicamente .. .

Literal translation:

Answer me if you are interested in my
proposal for married life with me
in Paris in your current life, only...

What do you think, should I accept?