| Matt Facts: Matthew dislikes drinking cold drinks from coffee mugs. He also hates plastic forks. | | Did you Know? Toothpicks are overrated. | | Words of Inspiration: "You can tell a lot about a fellow by the way he eats Jelly Beans" – R.Regan | | Did you know? There are no Pez Facts. Pez is, in fact, not factual. | | Matt Facts: Matthew's fortune cookies always predict success. | | Words of Inspiration: When I'm sad I stop being sad and be awesome instead - Barney Stinson | | Did you know? "Buf­falo buf­falo Buf­falo buf­falo buf­falo buf­falo Buf­falo buf­falo” is a gram­mat­i­cally valid sentence. | | Matt Facts: Matthew is best served on the rocks with a slice of lemon. | | Words of Inspiration: "Life is futile." | | Did you Know? Dinosaurs and Dandelions is the name of a popular blog that has been around since the 15 April 2010 | | Matt Facts: Unlike some people, Matthew only celebrates his birthday once a year. | | Words of Inspiration: "I'll be back" - The Terminator. | | Did you Know? The two modern breeds of Cocker Spaniel, American and English, are thought to have been descended from only two dogs? | | Matt Facts: On the second to last full moon of the year, Matthew develops an itch on his right shoulder. | | Words of Inspiration: “You can do it!” - Rob Schneider, in every Adam Sandler movie ever | | Did you know? Lettuce is often eaten raw. | | Words of Inspiration: "Science is always at work and never sleeps – just like Rust" | | Did you Know? When you dream, every­thing you see in that dream, you’ve seen before in real life. | | Matt Facts: Matthew officially endorses the Cadbury's Moro bar as being delicious | | Did You Know? A tadpole is also called a 'pollywog'. | | Matt Facts: Matthew has his own Facebook fan page. Creepy. | | Did You Know? Cats sleep for 70% of their lives. | | Words of Inspiration: "End? No, the journey doesn't end here. Death is just another path, one that we all must take. The grey rain-curtain of this world rolls back, and all turns to silver glass, and then you see it." - Gandalf. | | Did you Know? This is the end. The journey ends here. Then it starts all over again. |

Tuesday 30 July 2013

The Music Box [AlunaGeorge]

Our last duo is from London and consists of Aluna Francis and George Reid. They call themselves AlunaGeorge [See what they did there?], and they just released their first album, Body Music, in the last week! The tune might be called Attracting Flies, but don't worry, it doesn't stink!


Friday 26 July 2013

Top5: Boxes

5. Post Office. 
Mail, who doesn’t like getting mail? Especially post cards.

4. Cricket. 
A box in cricket protects important stuff.

3. Cardboard. 
Essential for when you are moving house, cardboard boxes also come in handy at Pak n Save.

2. Office. 
We rather like films here at D&D. LOTS of films.

1. Music.
Bringing us top quality content since 2010. The Music Box never fails to entertain and inform with high quality tunes.

Thursday 25 July 2013

The Music Box [The Knife]

Our next duo consists of Swedish siblings, Olof Dreijer and Karin Dreijer Anderson, who perform under the name, The Knife. [If that sounds familiar, it might be because the José González version of their song, Heartbeats has already featured in The Music Box during last months covers theme!] From their fourth album, Shake The Habitual, this is A Tooth For An Eye.



Saturday 20 July 2013

The Music box [The Presets]

For the third edition of our duos theme we have the forth single off the third album of the first Aussie group ever featured in The Music Box. Here now, with the song Fall, are two guys dressed as The Presets falling out of a plane.



Friday 19 July 2013

Top5: The Western Isle

As you may know, I'm over in the Western Isle right now. Tonight in fact we are repairing broken friendships by watching the Warriors THRASH the Wests Tigers. (hopefully)

To celebrate here are five fun facts:

5. One third of Australia is desert.

4. The 1828 census found that half the population of NSW was convicts, and another quarter were ex-convicts. 26 January, Australia day, is the anniversary of the first convict ships arriving in Sydney.

3. Sydney is Australia's first, and largest, city. Also known as Sin City, Sydney wanted to be the capital of Australia but its convict stigma counted against it. Instead, they built a shithole capital halfway between Sydney and Melbourne; Canberra.

2.Australia's first police force was a band of 12 of the most well behaved Convicts.

1. Emus and kangaroos cannot walk backwards, and are on the Australian coat of arms for that reason.

Tuesday 16 July 2013

Ask Allan... July Edition


Welcome to July's edition of your favorite monthly Q&A. Before we start, many of you have been asking where you can purchase the yellow leather hat shown in the banner above. Unfortunately this is not for sale as I only have one and I need it every second Thursday. If you would like to enquire about purchasing any other items of clothing, please see the contact details at the end of this blog entry. Now.. down to business...


Dear Allan, 
My car makes a sloshing sound when I come to a stop. What should I do? #AskAllan
Krystle @ Bush & Beach

Dear Krystle @ Bush & Beach

Your car may be carrying too much petrol, which could be overflowing and gathering in the crevices of the car's structure. I recommend soaking an old rag in petrol, opening the fuel filler cap, place the soaked rag in the fuel filler hole and then light the rag with a match. This will get rid of that pesky surplus petrol and the sloshing sounds! :-)

Thanks for writing in to 'Ask Allan...'

p.s. stand back

Allan 

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Why do they make Ribena packages so that the only way to open them involves sticking your finger into the Ribena?
- Stephen Merriman

Hi Stephen, thanks for your thought-provoking question. 

After conducting extensive research and testing, I have come to the following conclusion: You're doing it wrong. 

Thanks
Allan

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Dear Allan,
My husband has recently acquired a man scarf to protect him from the chilly winter weather. He is struggling to find the best and most masculine way to wear his scarf and I was wondering if you would be able to provide some advise in regards to this as it seems that you are very fashion-conscious (judging by the picture provided on this blog). Please help!
Mrs K M Martin

Dear Mrs Martin, 

Thank you for your question which I have no doubt has embarrassed your husband greatly. From the information you have provided me, and the fact that you expect your husband to wear a scarf, I can only come to the conclusion that you live on the North Shore... somewhere in the Torbay/Browns Bay area perhaps? But that is beside the point... 

When it comes to men wearing scarfs, I find that there is only one best practice, and I would be happy to guide you through it step-by-step (...remember that TV show?).

1. Hold the scarf in both hands so that is it fully-extended.. hehehe
2. Fold the scarf in half, and then fold in half again so that it is approx 1/4 the original length
3. Ask your husband to stand with both arms extended in front of him, palms down
4. Flush the scarf down the toilet.

Thanks for writing in! :-)

Allan

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Dear Allan,
There's this girl. Every time I see her she starts kissing my neck and partially undressing. How do I tell if she likes me or not?
Yours,
Mr B. Lind

Thank you for your question Mr B. Lind.

I cannot be sure, however if she has not actually told you that she likes you, then I would predict that you are not paying her enough money. Next time she is undressing, try slipping her another $50 while asking "Do you like me?".... I am sure this would provide a favorable result for you. 

To provide additional support with your problem, I am more than happy to help by coming to observe this next time and providing a demonstration if needed. 

Allan

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Dear Allan

As co-editor-in-chief I demand to know how you got access to Dinosaurs and Dandelions and who authorised this whole 'Ask Allan' nonsense! You can't just stroll in here like you own the place and start writing your own bits! This is an outrage! Matthew is on the phone to our head of security as I type this and you should expect to recieve a letter from our lawyers in th every near future regarding this breach!

While I'm here though, I am co-editor-in-chief of a blog, for pirvacy reasons lets call it.. "Jigsaws and Sealions"... and there is this other co-editor-in-chief who is always picking on me and calling me names. How can I make him stop and understand how his actions make me feel?

Keep up the good work
From Pez.


Dear Pez, 

Thank you for your email. Unfortunately it would be inappropriate for me to comment on the aleged "breach" you outlined in early in your letter, as my solicitor is currently drawing up a suitable response, which I can assure you will include some sort of defamation claim. However, I can say, it is great to be part of the team and working with you Pez.

In regards to the second part of your letter, I do want to help you while protecting your privacy.. or what you seem to call 'pirvacy'. Thinking back to my days as a Peer Mediator whilst I attended Primary School, a technique comes to mind which you may find helpful... I would start by having a conversation with this co-editor where you begin by making "I feel..." statements. This way Matthew he may better understand how his actions make you feel. If this does not work, then I recommend a swift knee to the crotch or a prank resulting him in spending a night in prison... I'll leave the details up to you ;-)

I hope this helps

Allan

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Well people, that brings to a close July's edition of 'Ask Allan...' and I cannot thank you enough for your input via your questions. I'm sorry I couldn't get around to responding to everyone's questions... they just weren't good enough. However they will be filed away in preparation for the Wildcard Round.

As always, I leave you with a powerful quote for you to ponder in the days ahead:

"Its t-shirt tiiiiiiiiiime"
Vinny, Pauley, Mikey and Ron

And if you were wondering if it was Christmas yet, here is a website you may find helpful:

www.isitchristmas.com

Please do keep your questions coming, no matter how trivial or outrageous you think they are. You can send them by submitting them on Facebook, Twitter or emailing dinosaursanddandelions@hotmail.com.

Monday 15 July 2013

The Music Box [Purity Ring]

For duo number two we head to one of my top two favourite countries in North America - Canada! The two members, Megan James and Corin Roddick, first formed Purity Ring in 2010 while on tour as part of another band. In 2012 they signed to a record label and released their debut album, Shrines, which includes the track Belispeak.



Friday 12 July 2013

Another brick in the wall.

Huzzah!

At some point last night we went past 10,000 page views. That means that we, dear readers, have spent 10,000 moments together. Poor you! Poor, poor you...

Thursday 11 July 2013

Top5: Children's picture books

Welcome to Top5: Children's picture books, in which we attempt to explain why we all had such warped childhoods.

5: Green Eggs and Ham. Dr. Seuss, 1960 $10.57
Fun fact: This book contains only 50 words and is the result of a bet between Dr. Seuss and his publisher that he could not write a book consisting of less words than The Cat in the Hat, which contains 225 words.

5. Badjelly the Witch. Spike Mulligan, 1973. $17.99
Two children are searching for their lost cow (as you do) when they are captured by an incredibly scary witch. Eek! Plus, Spike Mulligan.

4: There's a Hippopotamus on Our Roof Eating Cake. Hazel Edwards, 1980. $5.92
"The imaginary Hippo can do what he likes on the roof. In fact, he does all the things a little girl wishes she could, but is not allowed..." what a naughty hippo!

3: Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy. Lynley Dodd, 1983. $10.57
"Hairy Maclary goes off for a walk with a few of his friends - and comes up against a nasty surprise in the shape of Scarface Claw." A New Zealand classic that's celebrating its 30th birthday this month!


2: The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Eric Carle, 1969. $12.33
In which a hungry caterpillar keeps eating until it turns into a butterfly. The book has sold roughly a copy a minute since its release in 1969 and has been endorsed by the Royal Entomological Society! Entomawhatical?

1: The Railway Series No.1: The Three Railway Engines. The Rev W. Awdry, 1945. $10.57
The "exciting illustrated adventure" that started it all, The Railway Series stretches to 42 books and is perhaps best known for "No.2: Thomas the Tank Engine". No.1 introduced us to the lovable characters of Edward, Gordon, Henry, the Isle of Sodor and the Fat Director.

Wednesday 10 July 2013

The Music Box [MS MR]

If two's company and three's a crowd... is six, two crowds or three companies? I don't know and I don't like crowds, so just to be safe, this month in The Music Box we're all about duos!

Unsurprisingly, our first duo consists of two people - vocalist Lizzy Plapinger and producer Max Hershenow. The pair, from New York, go by the name MS MR and released their debut album, Secondhand Rapture, earlier this year. This is their first single, Hurricane.


Sunday 7 July 2013

Cooking with Matthew: Cheese

Well hello there my precious ducklings and welcome back to another quality Cooking Making with Matthew. Recently we were forbidden by one of the wise Editors-in-chief from creating any recipes that included Mice. As a result we have had to completly redesign today’s recipe.

Instead, today we are making something that is for mice. Namely, cheese. 

Cheese (serves 12…mice)

Ingredients
  • Milk (preferably from a cow)
Procedure
  1. Ask Little Miss Muffet how to make Curds and Whey and then follow her instructions.
  2. Separate the Curds from the Whey using your old smelly sock as a sieve.
  3. Press the Curds to get the moisture out.
  4. Refrigerate.
  5. Enjoy!
[Public Health Warning: Don't, just don't...or do, but take lots of photos]

Monday 1 July 2013

Top 5: Ships

5. MS Allure of the Sea: Did you know this was the largest cruise ship in the world? And has been since 2010? Oh. Well, I didn't...

4. Ten Cents: Sure, a fictional boat, but hey! Representing Tugboats everywhere which for its size, is the most powerful craft afloat.
 

3. USS Nimitz: The oldest aircraft carrier still in service with the US Navy, Nimitz was built in 1975 and is still one of the largest warships in the world.

2. RMS Queen Mary 2: The only transatlantic liner in service between New York and Southampton, the Queen Mary 2 visited Auckland in March.


1. USA 17: Also known as BMW Oracle Racing 90, USA 17 is a giant fuck-off racing trimaran that won the America's Cup in 2010, defeating those dastardly Swiss. Able to race with two hulls out of the water, sure USA 17 was only built for one purpose and is now obsolete but damn; awesome...