Omega is a watch company based in Biel/Bienne Switzerland and one of the most prestigious brand of timepieces. Omega's Speedmaster Professional Chronograph was the first watch worn on the Moon. All subsequent manned NASA missions also utilized this wristwatch. More recently, its Seamaster 300m Diver Chronometer is the current official James Bond watch, used in each of the Bond movies since its first appearance in GoldenEye. Luc Besson's movie The Big Blue featured Omega's Seamaster Professional 600. The watch is currently impossible to replicate due to a lost tool, and therefore also immensely sought after. The seamaster is a holder of an Imperial Mark, one of only three watches in the world to have one.

Source

*After walking in I met Sam's eye and gave him a nod.  'How you doing?' I asked him.  Without waiting for a response I told him he was in my Fantasy League team.  He gave me a quizzical look in return and I put it down to him recognising the Reds jersey I had on.  Can't a man follow two football codes?

Sam mumbled something that sounded like 'Thanks mate'. I took that as a cue to continue.  'You better pick your tackle rate up mate or I am going to trade you'.  Israel, who had been listened in, chortled and elbowed Sam.  'Yeah mate', he laughed.  You better improve eh?'. Sam threw me a dirty look, a grin and mumbled, 'Yeah mate'.  And they both walked off.*

Now if you really believed I said any of that you need your head read.  Sam would just have to flex his bicep and I would have been curled up in a ball, in the nearest corner, whimpering in fright.  I did see them both though.  And just in case you want to know, all three were perfectly behaved.

But

I mean it.  I will trade him.  Sam Thaiday's fantasy scores over the last three weeks have cost me.  If he doesn't score in the mid forties against the sharks this week, he's gone.

Neither dogs had a lead on them and their owner was nowhere to be seen.  One was just a pup but the other was just as big as Harry.  Some people get a little nervous when a horse sized dog wanders around freely so I skedaddled out there and tethered the two of them.  Mind you, I make it sound easy.  They took me on a merry chase down the street before I could get to them.

I walked them back to their house but no one was there and I wasn't  going to fix the hole they had created in their fence, so I brought them back to my house much to Harry´s delight.  The three of them proceeded to tear it up all over the backyard.  It was a chaotic scene complete with flying gobs of doggy saliva, copious butt sniffing, bone un-earthings and many male-on-male mountings (Why is it that dogs can´t it figure out).

Their owners were pretty thankful when they did come home and realised I had them.  Harry and I were sorry to see them go but I do have some pictures of the visitors.

Who's that at the gate?

I have worn glasses since I was a young child and so I can't remember life without them.  Wearing glasses is normal to me so the prospect of life without them was attractive but a reality I couldn't really comprehend.  It sounded good but 7000 AUD spent on the surgery was a lot of money. I guess someone who is forced to start wearing glasses in their adult life would jump at the opportunity to never have to wear them again.  I was attracted to the idea but no more than that.  Which is why the cost was such a factor.

Then OzSoapBox wrote a blog post a couple of days ago about laser eye surgery. His post encouraged me do some proper reading online.  I believe I can now make an informed decision rather than a decision based on word of mouth and the testimonials from 'spin sites'.  I recommend you check out his post should you be thinking about having laser eye surgery.

Here are some websites I believe will help you to make an informed decision;

Blogs & Personal Experiences

OzSoapBox - 10 must read blog posts on laser eye surgery

Pros

lasik.com.au

Wikipedia - Lasik

The Eye Institute

lasik.com

USA Eyes

Cons

Stahleyecenter-malpractice.com - The Lasik Report

Lasik-Flap.com - Anti Laser Eye Surgery Website and its forum

Lifeafterlasik.com - A post surgery community

Post Surgery Effects - blurring and halo

So what have i decided?  Well, I have decided not to go through with the surgery.  My decision is based on a few factors.

1.  Price - 7 grand AUD is a lot of money.

2.  I don't NEED the surgery.  Wearing glasses is not a hinderance for me and when I play contact sport I wear contact lenses.

3.  The procedure is irreversable.  So if something does go wrong ...

4.  Side Effects.  From what I have read side effects are common.  The halo, haze and dry eye symptoms affect many, many patients.  I know of one person who sufferes from all three (she actually still recommends the surgery - go figure).

5.  The Lasik Flap.  The laser cut into your eye, also known as the Lasik Flap, only heals to 2.4% of its former strength (I have read this is only a problem if your eye suffers a direct blow).  PRK could be an option for you if you wish to avoid this cut (an alternative laser eye surgery procedure that eliminates the need for this flap.

6.  I may still need glasses.  Even the positive spin sites often write that within a few years I may have to wear glasses again.  Should I have 'the dry eye' symptom contact lenses won't be an option for me - bye bye contact sport :(

7. Finally this report/list, posted on many sites, just scared the hell out of me. 

Don't let my bias convince or disuade you though.  What is important here is that I did some research.  If you are considering getting this surgery, you too should do some research. Don't take my opinion as gospel, or any one opinion for that matter.  Be sure to consider the facts, the testimonials of successful and unsuccessful patients and your personal circumstances.

If you know of a valuable website that fits into the Pros, Cons or Blog lists above please leave a comment and I will edit this post.

It is a shame that the Princeton definition is wrong.  The fact is that Vikings are still among us.  I think this is awesome especially considering Vikings are now a positive force in the world.  (Some may argue they always were?)

If you want proof watch the first two minutes of the video below.

If you are anything like me, watching this video has made Vikings one of your all time favourite ... things.  So, I have posted the original video below so that you can spend time editing it.  This way you can spread more Viking culture around the world.

Remember, Vikings are cool.

Yes, it is funny at first ... but consider that I have to teach kids that talk like this - every day.   Ethnic slander is common practice for so many people today and they think lightly of it; if they think about it at all.   I feel swamped in a rising tide of ignorance, fear and cultural misrepresentation.  That's when the video stops being so funny for me.

What is this video about?  Article 1 and Article 2

And another two videos ...
]]> admin@chookscratch.com (Scribbler) frontpage Wed, 20 May 2009 04:51:56 +0000 http://www.chookscratch.com/family/311-the-gloat http://www.chookscratch.com/family/311-the-gloat

 I play Fantasy Rugby League.  It is my first year doing this and it has been great.  A few colleagues, a friend, father and father in-law are all in the same fantasy rugby league group as I am.

 

Everything started out casually.  We would all compare teams, discuss our weekly trades and talk fantasy league shop.  Then things got competitive.

 

I don't know what the tipping point was.  Actually I do.  It was when my father wrote me a letter.  More specifically it was a mock newspaper article outlining, via an interview with the 'coach', just how badly my team would lose against his.  Here it is;

 

 

News emerging form the ‘Gong early today indicates that several key positional changes have been made to the Mighty Wayfarers in the lead to their much anticipated clash with the Big Frilly Skirts.  MW’s legendary coach OS Wayfarer said that his team was much stronger than the one which was unexpectedly beaten by the Dirty Dog last weekend.  He pointed to a stronger forward pack overall with changes to the run on side as well as the bench.

In a highly motivational ploy the MWs were seen to train against players dressed in Big Frilly Skirts and needless to say these frilly skirted no-hopers were unceremoniously shredded.

OS Wayfarer noted that the Big Frilly Skirts had only won narrowly last week and had few options in changing their line-up. Finally, he pointed to the fact that they have been below the MWs on the league table in recent weeks.

The anticipation is building.

 

It was an enjoyable email.  I had a laugh.  But, it raised the stakes.  The pressure was on.  Rather than reply and enter into a prematch mindgames I chose to bunker down.  Adopt a seige mentality if you like.  I closed up shop. Until now.  The big game was last weekend.  And I have waited long enough.  I have kept it bottled up inside. Now I have to let the world know.

 

I kicked his ass.  I kicked his ass by 583 to 509.  Considering I won my previous game by a single point, this was a pizzling.

 

It seems the Mighty wayfarers weren't so mighty.

]]> admin@chookscratch.com (Scribbler) frontpage Thu, 07 May 2009 09:36:28 +0000 http://www.chookscratch.com/videos/310-let-the-beat-build http://www.chookscratch.com/videos/310-let-the-beat-build This is the type of Hip Hop/Rap I like.  I found it at this blog.  This is 'live' music all filmed in one take.  The rawness and live nature of the film clip surpasses much of the synthetic over-produced rap I hear. There is no swearing either and the absence of misogynist content is refreshing.  And these guys are still students!  

Nyle "Let The Beat Build" from Nyle on Vimeo.