I'm writing this on my shiny new laptop, which is now working after a bit of a worrisome start.
When I got it home last night, quite giddy with anticipation I was, so it was a little disappointing when it failed to boot up.
It turns out the extra memory stick I'd requested was faulty, and once I'd removed it we were good to go.
So here we are.
The first thing I noticed was the ridulous amount of pre-installed software clogging up the works. That's gonna have to go.
In fact, maybe I'll just wipe the hard drive and and reinstall Windows from scratch. Nice and tidy.
After all, if I wanted a machine crammed with a bunch of shit I'm never going to use, I would have bought a Mac.
Thursday, 31 July 2008
Tuesday, 29 July 2008
Starbucks
It's just been announced that 61 of the 84 Starbucks outlets in Australia will be closing at the end of this week.
While it's tragic for the employees etc I just can't help feeling a little proud.
The quote from Starbucks boss Howard Schultz was that "no other international markets need to be addressed in this manner".
What I'm hearing is that Australians appreciate good coffee, have good coffee readily available, and really don't need some corporate behemoth doling out overpriced imitation coffee-like product.
But really, we could have told them that before they opened the first one here eight years ago.
While it's tragic for the employees etc I just can't help feeling a little proud.
The quote from Starbucks boss Howard Schultz was that "no other international markets need to be addressed in this manner".
What I'm hearing is that Australians appreciate good coffee, have good coffee readily available, and really don't need some corporate behemoth doling out overpriced imitation coffee-like product.
But really, we could have told them that before they opened the first one here eight years ago.
Thursday, 24 July 2008
Two weeks to Doomsday
In two weeks the Large Hadron Collider, a massive particle accelerator under the border of France and Switzerland, will go online.
Particle accelerators are nothing new, and the idea is simple . . . you smash particles together at insanely high speeds and see what happens.
But the LHC is so massive, and the collisions will be so violent, that apparently we risk generating a black hole, tearing the space-time continuum and destroying reality. Oooh.
Well, it just makes it that little bit more exciting, doesn't it? And hey, discovery is discovery. (I can see the debrief: "So that's how you destroy the universe. Huh.")
And anyway, so what if we tear a hole to another dimension? We've all seen Star Trek. We know how this works.
Sure it might be a dimension full of badass alien invaders intent on destroying our world and stealing our water.
But it's just as likely to be full of hot alien babes in silver jumpsuits desperate to understand this human emotion called "love".
And I for one am willing to take that chance.
Particle accelerators are nothing new, and the idea is simple . . . you smash particles together at insanely high speeds and see what happens.
But the LHC is so massive, and the collisions will be so violent, that apparently we risk generating a black hole, tearing the space-time continuum and destroying reality. Oooh.
Well, it just makes it that little bit more exciting, doesn't it? And hey, discovery is discovery. (I can see the debrief: "So that's how you destroy the universe. Huh.")
And anyway, so what if we tear a hole to another dimension? We've all seen Star Trek. We know how this works.
Sure it might be a dimension full of badass alien invaders intent on destroying our world and stealing our water.
But it's just as likely to be full of hot alien babes in silver jumpsuits desperate to understand this human emotion called "love".
And I for one am willing to take that chance.
Wednesday, 23 July 2008
Estelle Getty
Actress Estelle Getty has passed away at the age of 84.
Condolences to her family.
And 16 points for Kate.
Condolences to her family.
And 16 points for Kate.
Tuesday, 22 July 2008
Audited
Awww . . . pwned.
My friendly local Professional Association has informed me that they'll be auditing my hours spent on Continuing Professional Development.
Like a lot of professions, it's no longer enough just to turn up to work every day and do your thing. Drones like myself must also spend forty hours per calendar year on officially sanctioned CPD activities.
These range from speaking at international conferences to helping underlings with their homework, so the definition is pretty broad. And as such, it's not a hugely difficult standard to meet.
Still, I must now submit a comprehensive list of all the wonderful self-improving activities I've undertaken in the last two years.
Oh, what larks.
I think a tax audit would be more fun. At least I've kept receipts for that stuff.
My friendly local Professional Association has informed me that they'll be auditing my hours spent on Continuing Professional Development.
Like a lot of professions, it's no longer enough just to turn up to work every day and do your thing. Drones like myself must also spend forty hours per calendar year on officially sanctioned CPD activities.
These range from speaking at international conferences to helping underlings with their homework, so the definition is pretty broad. And as such, it's not a hugely difficult standard to meet.
Still, I must now submit a comprehensive list of all the wonderful self-improving activities I've undertaken in the last two years.
Oh, what larks.
I think a tax audit would be more fun. At least I've kept receipts for that stuff.
She said she'd never forget him . . .
Sue Jones-Davies, the actress who played Judith Iscariot in Monthy Python's 1979 classic The Life of Brian has been elected Mayor of the Welsh town of Aberystwyth.
One of her first acts as Mayor will be overturn the town's almost-30-year ban on, you guessed it, The Life of Brian.
I love this story, but there are two things about it that amaze me.
First, that there's somewhere in the Western world that still has a ban on this great movie, when all but the most one-eyed of religious leaders have conceded that it's not actually blasphemous, and
Second, that the citizens of this place, clearly a conservative backwater, have happily elected a woman as Mayor who's done a full-frontal nude scene.
But then again, maybe it's just because they haven't seen the movie.
One of her first acts as Mayor will be overturn the town's almost-30-year ban on, you guessed it, The Life of Brian.
I love this story, but there are two things about it that amaze me.
First, that there's somewhere in the Western world that still has a ban on this great movie, when all but the most one-eyed of religious leaders have conceded that it's not actually blasphemous, and
Second, that the citizens of this place, clearly a conservative backwater, have happily elected a woman as Mayor who's done a full-frontal nude scene.
But then again, maybe it's just because they haven't seen the movie.
Saturday, 19 July 2008
The Pope Apologises
Well, isn't that nice.
The pope has apologised to the people raped by members of his Catholic priesthood.
But let's remember that tomorrow, he and his followers will ritually cannibalise the dead flesh of the 2000-year-old zombie they worship.
So I'm not sure we should take anything he says too seriously.
The pope has apologised to the people raped by members of his Catholic priesthood.
But let's remember that tomorrow, he and his followers will ritually cannibalise the dead flesh of the 2000-year-old zombie they worship.
So I'm not sure we should take anything he says too seriously.
Parlay Voo
This morning my lovely wife and I began French language classes.
For the next five weeks, four hours every Saturday morning (and part of the afternoon) will be spent conjugating verbs, trying to remember the right preposition, and desperately trying to pronounce the letter 'R' without spitting all over the desk.
This is all part of our ill-defined (at the moment) but nevertheless strong intention to move to Paris.
Someday. Hopefully soon.
The next part will be working out how to transport two cats, one terminally grumpy and the other morbidly obese, halfway across the world.
Compared to that, getting the language down will be the easy part.
For the next five weeks, four hours every Saturday morning (and part of the afternoon) will be spent conjugating verbs, trying to remember the right preposition, and desperately trying to pronounce the letter 'R' without spitting all over the desk.
This is all part of our ill-defined (at the moment) but nevertheless strong intention to move to Paris.
Someday. Hopefully soon.
The next part will be working out how to transport two cats, one terminally grumpy and the other morbidly obese, halfway across the world.
Compared to that, getting the language down will be the easy part.
Tuesday, 15 July 2008
The Day the Trailer Came Out
It might not be too bad. This trailer gives me some hope.
It's yet possible that choosing Keanu to play a lone freaked-out alien invader was inspired and not insane. And I could watch Jennifer Connelly sitting still in a chair for two hours.
I meant her, not me. Although I'd be sitting still in a chair too. Oh, never mind.
No sign of Gort but I'm assured he will be there. And in his original laser-shootin' metal-ass-kickin' form.
He better be. Or there'll be some 'splainin to do.
Monday, 14 July 2008
Why Intelligent Design is Not Science
Intelligent Design is the theory that life as we know it is too complex to have come about by random chance, and therefore implies the presence of a Designer.
Not surprisingly, it's a theory heavily promoted by groups with a religious agenda, who will then go on to say that the Designer is the God they happen to worship.
Attempts were made a few years ago to introduce Intelligent Design theory into science classes in the USA, to be taught alongside Evolution and Natural Selection as an explanation for the origins of life.
In late 2005 the Kitzmiller v. Dover trial found, quite rightly, that Intelligent Design is not a scientific theory, and therefore should not be taught in science classes.
But why, you may ask, is it not a scientific theory? It's a statement about our origins. Surely it's just as valid to say that it was God as to say that it was Evolution?
No, it isn't. And here's the difference:
A fundamental principal of the scientific investigation of nature is that nature is assumed to be a closed system.
That is, the only influences on the system that are to be considered are those that come from within the system itself.
Any supernatural influences, such as Intelligent Design's hypothesised Designer, are outside the system and hence outside the realms of science.
Supernatural = Not Science. QED.
There are two important points about this:
1. This is not the same as saying that there is no Designer. It merely means that the hypothesis that there is a Designer is not a scientific one. Christians are welcome to postulate a Designer all they like on their own time and in their own churches.
2. This definition of scientific investigation was not made up by atheistic scientists in an attempt to prove the non-existence of God.
This basis for scientific research actually dates back to the late 17th century and the very earliest days of the Enlightenment. It was put in place by people like Sir Isaac Newton, a man known as much for his piety as his science.
Separating the investigation of the natural from the supernatural was seen simply as the most efficient way to advance knowledge.
And history has clearly shown this to be the right approach. From that very point we have seen an explosion in our understanding of the world.
Passing Intelligent Design off as science is just a throwback to pre-Enlightenment thinking.
It's a throwback to a time when religious leaders controlled the state, when the masses of the world lived in fear and poverty and repression, and knowledge was restricted to that which would not offend the reigning dogma.
I don't think we want to go back there.
Not surprisingly, it's a theory heavily promoted by groups with a religious agenda, who will then go on to say that the Designer is the God they happen to worship.
Attempts were made a few years ago to introduce Intelligent Design theory into science classes in the USA, to be taught alongside Evolution and Natural Selection as an explanation for the origins of life.
In late 2005 the Kitzmiller v. Dover trial found, quite rightly, that Intelligent Design is not a scientific theory, and therefore should not be taught in science classes.
But why, you may ask, is it not a scientific theory? It's a statement about our origins. Surely it's just as valid to say that it was God as to say that it was Evolution?
No, it isn't. And here's the difference:
A fundamental principal of the scientific investigation of nature is that nature is assumed to be a closed system.
That is, the only influences on the system that are to be considered are those that come from within the system itself.
Any supernatural influences, such as Intelligent Design's hypothesised Designer, are outside the system and hence outside the realms of science.
Supernatural = Not Science. QED.
There are two important points about this:
1. This is not the same as saying that there is no Designer. It merely means that the hypothesis that there is a Designer is not a scientific one. Christians are welcome to postulate a Designer all they like on their own time and in their own churches.
2. This definition of scientific investigation was not made up by atheistic scientists in an attempt to prove the non-existence of God.
This basis for scientific research actually dates back to the late 17th century and the very earliest days of the Enlightenment. It was put in place by people like Sir Isaac Newton, a man known as much for his piety as his science.
Separating the investigation of the natural from the supernatural was seen simply as the most efficient way to advance knowledge.
And history has clearly shown this to be the right approach. From that very point we have seen an explosion in our understanding of the world.
Passing Intelligent Design off as science is just a throwback to pre-Enlightenment thinking.
It's a throwback to a time when religious leaders controlled the state, when the masses of the world lived in fear and poverty and repression, and knowledge was restricted to that which would not offend the reigning dogma.
I don't think we want to go back there.
I want me one of these
From 2009 Savannah Cats will be available in Australia.
These little guys a great. Sleek and exotic and bred to look wild.
That's look wild, mind you. Not act wild. Not that that's clear from some of the stories doing the rounds.
In an insanely hysterical piece in the Brisbane Times on the weekend, the poor little buggers are being painted as nothing more than giant feral cats that would kill you and yours without a second thought.
And just look at that photo they chose . . . it's clearly a killer!
If you stick "savannah cats" into Google Images, then that one pops up on the front page.
But every other photo looks more like this:
Biased much ??
These little guys a great. Sleek and exotic and bred to look wild.
That's look wild, mind you. Not act wild. Not that that's clear from some of the stories doing the rounds.
In an insanely hysterical piece in the Brisbane Times on the weekend, the poor little buggers are being painted as nothing more than giant feral cats that would kill you and yours without a second thought.
And just look at that photo they chose . . . it's clearly a killer!
If you stick "savannah cats" into Google Images, then that one pops up on the front page.
But every other photo looks more like this:
Biased much ??
Sunday, 13 July 2008
Get Smart
Remaking classic TV shows as feature films can be a hit and miss affair. For every Charlie's Angels there's a raft of Speed Racers, Dukes of Hazzard and Starskies and Hutches.
The producers of Get Smart have managed to tap into the winning formula, which is to have enough references to the original show so as not to look like a simple rip-off, but enough plot and character development so as not to seem simply like a long episode of the show.
Basically, you've got to keep the old fans happy without alienating potential new ones. And in Get Smart they've managed to pull it off.
Steve Carell inhabits the classic character of Maxwell Smart without it ever feeling like an impersonation, and Anne Hathaway plays Agent 99 in a way that nicely combines the character's Bond-girl origins with some thoroughly modern moxie.
The plot is typical Get Smart fodder, best not examined too closely and mainly used as setup for some great pratfalls, spontaneous fist fights and truly ridiculous gadgets (exploding dental floss!)
Happily, the presence of original series creators Mel Brooks and Buck Henry (credited as "consultants") is obvious, with the plot never getting very far before featuring some gutbusting comedy.
A great movie, and a great tribute to a great show.
4 out of 5
The producers of Get Smart have managed to tap into the winning formula, which is to have enough references to the original show so as not to look like a simple rip-off, but enough plot and character development so as not to seem simply like a long episode of the show.
Basically, you've got to keep the old fans happy without alienating potential new ones. And in Get Smart they've managed to pull it off.
Steve Carell inhabits the classic character of Maxwell Smart without it ever feeling like an impersonation, and Anne Hathaway plays Agent 99 in a way that nicely combines the character's Bond-girl origins with some thoroughly modern moxie.
The plot is typical Get Smart fodder, best not examined too closely and mainly used as setup for some great pratfalls, spontaneous fist fights and truly ridiculous gadgets (exploding dental floss!)
Happily, the presence of original series creators Mel Brooks and Buck Henry (credited as "consultants") is obvious, with the plot never getting very far before featuring some gutbusting comedy.
A great movie, and a great tribute to a great show.
4 out of 5
Ian Thorpe plays the Pronoun Game
Quoted in today's Sunday Telegraph, former Olympian Ian Thorpe has said: "there is someone special in my life, but they don't live in this country . . . " (emphasis added).
Should we be expecting a "shocking" announcement after the Olympics?
Stay tuned.
Should we be expecting a "shocking" announcement after the Olympics?
Stay tuned.
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