tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30421872024-03-14T11:16:20.497+11:00Old DnosauriaExternalising memory since May 2001.Deanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02151887649822821299noreply@blogger.comBlogger1220125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3042187.post-32228125557057029062009-05-31T12:37:00.000+10:002009-05-31T12:41:26.801+10:00Moving On UpI've thrown some cash towards a domain name and hosting and I've shifted over to using Wordpress.<br /><br />You can follow my adventures, musings and random notes at the new <a href="http://dnosauria.net">Dnosauria.net</a>.Deanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02151887649822821299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3042187.post-33124028499691445962008-11-13T19:35:00.002+11:002008-11-13T19:43:26.249+11:00More NoCleanFeed NotesSchneier <a href="http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2008/11/censorship_in_d.html">points out</a> that at least the UAE's filter has an appeals process.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">~~~<br /><br /></div>All of the recent discussions on the Clean Feed have got me thinking that there could be a spin-off from Godwin's Law relating to censorship discussions from:<br /><br />"As a Usenet discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches one."<br /><br />to:<br /><br />"As a discussion on internet filtering grows longer, the probability of an insinuation that a anti-censorship contributor is pro child pornography approaches one"Deanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02151887649822821299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3042187.post-82645600948153386712008-11-12T22:25:00.004+11:002008-11-12T22:36:04.190+11:00A Trio of DocosHaven't seen that many movies lately, I've been watching documentaries instead. These are the ones you should try see.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Night</span><br /><br />I want this film as my screensaver. Loved the Australian cityscapes and the anonymising silhouettes. I want this soundtrack in my collection.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ima5j3xeeSU&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ima5j3xeeSU&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Glass: A Portrait of Philip in 12 Parts</span><br /><br />I love insights into how creative people do their thing.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/QnYknQDNrLg&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/QnYknQDNrLg&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Young @ Heart</span><br /><br />If you don't smile after seeing this film, you're a walking corpse.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/CjnfoFg7i7g&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/CjnfoFg7i7g&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Deanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02151887649822821299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3042187.post-30783478160476192442008-11-05T22:19:00.002+11:002008-11-05T22:23:32.231+11:00Prodigal Kid Returns to TransitKid Confucius <a href="http://elevenmagazine.com.au/2008/11/04/kid-confucius-tour-dates/">hit Transit Bar</a> <a href="http://dno.blogspot.com/2007/09/image034jpg.html">again</a> on December 6th. Be there in your best jumpin' kicks.Deanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02151887649822821299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3042187.post-26320273649908845592008-11-04T19:13:00.002+11:002008-11-04T19:16:20.697+11:00Eight Problems with the Australian Clean Feed Proposal[Dropped this as a comment to <a href="http://dno.blogspot.com/2008/11/flirting-with-absurdity.html#comments">my previous post</a>, but thought it worthy of its own in retrospect]<br /><br /><p><a href="http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies.cfm?t=1080349&p=41#r813" rel="nofollow">An update from Mark Newton</a>, featuring the 8 key problems with the Clean Feed proposal:<br><br>1. No problem to solve, <br>2. no public demand to solve it, <br>3. Government's proposed solutions won't work, <br>4. even if they worked they're unreliable, <br>5. even if they were reliable they're too expensive, <br>6. even if they were affordable they'll be implemented by the same class of scope-creeping bureaucrats who decided Mr. Haneef was a terrorist, <br>7. even if they could be implemented perfectly the blacklist would leak, and <br>8. when a perfect blacklist leaks it'll enable child exploitation all over the planet, with the direct assistance of the Commonwealth of Australia and Senator Stephen Conroy.<br><br>Lots of ifs there that the gov need to sort out.</p>Deanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02151887649822821299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3042187.post-28002087758677365752008-11-03T12:15:00.003+11:002008-11-03T12:36:38.050+11:00Flirting with AbsurdityDuring the election campaign a bunch of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">aussie</span> blogs sported a message to Kev:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik7ZfcMisKtQ_aih1t1HZJEiSlQGO7LeUuL6S3yGRw3kTJz-YijChptNelvqk4iEyCULeR9SXh27_Oxp9IMhyC9pr4Vgbc9BZiYnVqD6l3pmaZuNvHelpynRo-N3jH9rml31Kp/s1600-h/dfiu.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 142px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik7ZfcMisKtQ_aih1t1HZJEiSlQGO7LeUuL6S3yGRw3kTJz-YijChptNelvqk4iEyCULeR9SXh27_Oxp9IMhyC9pr4Vgbc9BZiYnVqD6l3pmaZuNvHelpynRo-N3jH9rml31Kp/s320/dfiu.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263851852886017890" border="0" /></a><br />Well, on the question of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">internet</span> filtering (as Kev would say), they're fucking it up. They need to man-up and admit they're <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=12125926">wrong</a>.<br /><br />The clean feed proposal won't stop the bad people and will inconvenience the good people. It's like putting half a dozen deadlocks on your doors and then leaving a ground floor window open. It's a really bad idea.<br /><br />The fact that you're reading this means you're a bright, forward-thinking net user, so no doubt you'll already have come across stories about the government's clean feed proposal. Allow me to note down a quick synopsis:<br /><blockquote>March 06<br />- <a href="http://209.85.173.104/search?q=cache:3vHw-xTE-uQJ:www.alp.org.au/media/0306/msloo210.php+media+release+filter&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=10&gl=au&client=firefox-a">Kim <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Beazley</span> promises clean feed</a><br /><br />June 07<br />- <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">ACMA</span> kicks off filter test process as directed by then minister Helen <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Coonan</span><br /><br />December 07<br />- <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/12/31/2129471.htm">Newly-elected ALP government announces <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">cleanfeed</span> to go ahead</a><br /><br />Early 08<br />- <a href="http://www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,24897,23274585-15306,00.html">Closed environment tests conducted in Tasmania</a><br /><br />June 08<br />- <a href="http://www.acma.gov.au/WEB/STANDARD/pc=PC_311316"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">ACMA</span> report</a> released<br /><br />July 08<br />- <a href="http://www.alp.org.au/media/0708/mscoit290.php">Conroy welcomes test report</a><br /><br />September 08<br />- Mark Newton <a href="http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies.cfm?t=967413&r=16774529#r16774529">posts</a> that the only opt-out option seems to be switching from blacklist 1 to blacklist 2 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">ie</span> no opt-out option<br /><br />Early October 08<br />- <a href="http://www.somebodythinkofthechildren.com/no-opt-out-from-isp-filtering-two-black-lists-and-you-can-only-opt-out-from-one/"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Bloggers</span> pick up the nugget and run with it.</a> <a href="http://www.somebodythinkofthechildren.com/filters-mandatory-for-all-australians-dbcde/"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">MSM</span> catches up two weeks later.</a><br /><br />Late October 08<br />- <a href="http://www.somebodythinkofthechildren.com/big-list-of-no-aussie-net-censorship-posters/">Creative responses abound</a><br />- <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/rn/mediareport/stories/2008/2405376.htm">The Great Firewall of Australia</a> becomes the subject of discussion in the dying days of <span style="font-style: italic;">The Media Report</span> on RN. Conroy talks intent, <a href="http://markpesce.com/">Mark <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Pesce</span></a> talks practicalities.<br />- Mark <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Pesce's</span> <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/stories/s2406365.htm"><span style="font-style: italic;">Clean Feeds</span></a> piece on ABC's <span style="font-style: italic;">Unleashed</span> observes Twitter as awareness-raiding/organising medium, comments credit blogs (namely <a href="http://www.somebodythinkofthechildren.com/"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">SomebodyThinkOfTheChildren</span>.com</a>) and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Facebook</span> groups (<a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=69833515130"><span style="font-style: italic;">No Clean Feed</span></a> has 2805 members, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=7968823265"><span style="font-style: italic;">No Australian Internet Censorship</span></a> has 10103 members and <a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=5997469998">People Against Mandatory Internet Filters in Australia</a> has 771 members as at 02 Nov 08) as well as a cause page.<br /><br />02 Nov 08<br />- <a href="http://techwiredau.com/liveshow/">Tech Wired Australia</a> proposes "Stop It, Don't Block It" as counter-campaign slogan, register <a href="http://stopitdontblockit.com/">the domain</a> after podcast recording.<br /></blockquote>There's a much more <a href="http://www.overclockers.com.au/wiki/Australian_Internet_Filtering">comprehensive timeline</a> on the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">OCAU</span> wiki.<br /><br />On <span style="font-style: italic;">The Media Report</span>, Conroy pulled out something akin to a party-line <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Nuremburg</span> defense:<br /><blockquote style="font-style: italic;">"This is a long-standing election commitment. We made this commitment back when Kim <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Beazley</span> was leader of the Labor Party, so just to give you an indication, this is a long-standing position we've been advocating."</blockquote>This is disingenuous on several fronts: Firstly Mr Conroy, you dumped <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Beazley</span>, so you don't owe him anything as far as implementing his proposals goes. Secondly, when Big Kim announced the plan, he didn't say anything about it being mandatory for all. He said<br /><blockquote style="font-style: italic;">[<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">ISP</span>] "will be required to <span style="font-weight: bold;">offer</span> a filtered "clean feed" <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">internet</span> service"</blockquote>not that it would be forced upon us and he also said <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">there'd</span> be an opt-out option. Choice was still on the table. Thirdly, just because <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">Coonan</span> directed <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">ACMA</span> to test and report, it doesn't mean you have to implement. You're the Minister remember? <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">Beazley</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">Coonan</span> might have laid the tracks, but you're in control of the train now and you can still stop it (and all of the parasitic special interest groups) before it derails.<br /><br />Or has it already? Excuse me while I jot down some incompletely formed scenarios (feel free to tear them apart, propose alternatives in comments):<br /><br /><blockquote>Worst Case:<br /><br />Proposal implemented as it stands. Special interest groups (Fielding, Xenophon) get their 'legal-but-immoral' content banned. Speed drops, people flock to TOR, P2P nets and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">VPNs</span> to get to the content they want. No political fallout for Rudd or Conroy.<br /><br />Best of the worst cases:<br /><br />Proposal implemented as it stands. ALP sticks to filtering content based on existing crimes legislation only, tells special interest groups to go jump. Speed drops, people still flock to alternative means and circumvent filters. Rudd & Conroy lose tech sector support/votes.<br /><br />Best case for Kevin:<br /><br />Rudd sees that the filter stands in the way of a decent national broadband strategy. Announces that he has considered the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">kevidence</span> of blocked tubes, speed drops, ease of circumvention etc and announces another study/review. This gets the comparisons with Iran and China off the front pages and gives everyone a chance to provide submissions (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">yay</span>, more <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">kevidence</span>). Not so good for Conroy, being slapped down by the PM. Actually, maybe not so good for Rudd either, what with him exercising Howard-like control of cabinet.<br /><br />Best case for Conroy:<br /><br />Having trouble with this one; maybe it's all too far gone for Conroy to have any redemption at all. If he keeps going, he joins a club already populated by <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">Harradine</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">Ruddock</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31">Vanstone</span> and Howard. If he backs down he risks being seen as hating Laura <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_32">Norder</span>.<br /><br />Best case for everybody:<br /><br />The whole idea is nixed. Rudd wakes up after another night at Scores, decides parenting should be left to parents. Reallocates filter funds to education, health. Sets up <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_33">skunkworks</span> to design <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_34">wowser</span> filters.<br /></blockquote>We shouldn't, nay mustn't, just hope for the best and prepare for the worst. You have to let your <a href="http://www.openaustralia.org/">elected representatives</a> know what you think of this proposal before it's implemented. <a href="http://nocleanfeed.com/">No Clean Feed</a> has several options for action, but I would recommend letters. Real printed letters, signed and sent in real envelopes with real stamps. Postcards run a close second. They're real, tangible. E-mails and online petitions might get the same content across, but there's something about a real tangible letter/postcard that I think gets the message across better, especially on issues of importance. One person I know has written to Conroy, the communications shadow minister (Nick <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_35">Minchin</span>) and his members (federal and territory) and I plan to match him. If you're not confident writing a letter, there are plenty of templates around: <a href="http://nocleanfeed.com/action.html">1</a>, <a href="http://stilgherrian.com/politics/dear-mr-albanese-internet-censorship-trials-must-stop/">2</a>, <a href="http://stilgherrian.com/politics/dear-kate-ellis-mp/">3</a>, <a href="http://kattekrab.livejournal.com/50007.html">4</a>.<br /><br /><br />If you've gotten through all that, and you've printed, signed & sent your letters, you deserve a video:<br /><br /><br /><object height="377" width="402"><param name="movie" value="http://www.overstream.net/swf/player/oplx?oid=s4tsi5tzlgtt&noplay=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.overstream.net/swf/player/oplx?oid=s4tsi5tzlgtt&noplay=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" height="377" width="402"></embed></object><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://nocleanfeed.com/"><br /><img src="http://nocleanfeed.com/nocensorship.gif" alt="No Clean Feed - Stop Internet Censorship in Australia" border="0" height="60" width="180" /><br /></a>Deanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02151887649822821299noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3042187.post-13506764779519789632008-10-28T21:31:00.003+11:002008-10-28T21:40:29.483+11:00Singstar Country - What? Not one Dixie Chicks track?Hmm, I think there's maybe a handful of names I recognise and maybe one or two songs, but I'm not the target demo for this particular incarnation of Singstar, given the closest I've ever come to spending money on country music was buying <span style="font-style:italic;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Blues-Willie-Nelson-Wynton-Marsalis/dp/B0016NF06O">Two Men With The Blues</a></span>. Along with the dashed expectation of missing Dixie Chicks, all I'm thinking right now is "isn't <span style="font-style:italic;">Come On Over</span> a pop track?"<br /><br /><blockquote>Alan Jackson - "Chattahoochee"<br />Kellie Pickler - "Red High Heels"<br />Alan Jackson - "Good Time"<br />Kenny Chesney - "Big Star"<br />Big & Rich - "Save A Horse (Ride a Cowboy)"<br />Lady Antebellum - "Love Don't Live Here"<br />Blake Shelton - "Home"<br />Martina McBride - "A Broken Wing"<br />Brad Paisley - "Online"<br />Montgomery Gentry - "My Town"<br />Brooks & Dunn - "Boot Scootin' Boogie"<br />Montgomery Gentry - "What Do Ya Think About That?"<br />Brooks & Dunn w/ Reba McEntire - "If You See Him/If You See Her"<br />Rascall Flats - "Bless the Broken Road"<br />Bucky Covington - "It's Good To Be Us"<br />Sara Evans - "Born to Fly"<br />Faith Hill - "Red Umbrella"<br />Taylor Swift - "Our Song"<br />Gretchen Wilson - "Red Neck Woman"<br />Terri Clark - "Girls Lie Too"<br />Jewel - "Stronger Woman"<br />Trace Adkins - "Honky Tonk Badonkadonk"<br />Johnny Cash - "A Boy Named Sue"<br />Trace Adkins - "You're Gonna Miss This"<br />Johnny Cash - "I Walk the Line"<br />Willie Nelson - "Pancho and Lefty"<br />Josh Turner - "Another Try"<br />Jessica Simpson - "Come on Over"<br />Keith Urban - "Days Go By"<br />Miranda Lambert - "Kerosene"</blockquote>Deanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02151887649822821299noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3042187.post-32902653922238673472008-10-06T10:29:00.011+11:002008-10-06T14:40:55.922+11:00Calling Out Bad Behaviour on Twitter (or On Un-Following)<blockquote><span style="font-style:italic;">"Manners are of more importance than laws. .. Manners are what vex or soothe, corrupt or purify, exalt or debase, barbarize or refine us, by a constant, steady, uniform, insensible operation like that of the air we breathe in."</span> - <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmund_Burke">Edmund Burke</a></blockquote><div><br /></div>One of the things I find interesting about jumping into social networks and services when they're relatively new is watching the social norms develop. Even with terms of service and complaint mechanisms, it's largely the users who determine what's OK and what's not using the only currency this environment has: attention. Watched, the user has a voice, ideas can propagate, but ignored they're speaking to an empty room, memes wither and die. But is ignoring someone enough? I've been reading a bunch of pieces on <a href="http://www.themorningnews.org/archives/the_thoughtful_user_guide/writing_my_twitter_etiquette_article_14_ways_to_use_twitter_politely.php">Twitter etiquette</a> recently, but none have discussed calling out bad behaviour online, so consider this piece an attempt to start that discussion. <br /><br />Some background first. I've been using <a href="http://www.twitter.com/">Twitter</a> (<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddO9idmax0o">in plain English</a>) since <a href="http://barcamp.org/BarCampCanberra">BarCamp Canberra</a> in April. I'd heard about it before then, but I didn't really have a use for it until then. Turned out it did a bunch of stuff: it was the inaudible PA for the day, broadcasting schedule updates, as well as a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Back_channel#In_public_speaking">back-channel</a> (<a href="http://memex.naughtons.org/archives/2008/05/28/5153">1</a>,<a href="http://blogs.zdnet.com/social/?p=110">2</a>,<a href="http://www.redmonk.com/cote/2007/03/06/using-twitter-at-conferences/">3</a>) for attendees to meet & greet and discuss what was going on. Interactivity FTW.<br /><br />There's good stuff happening, so I've hung around. I've microblogged/liveblogged, kept in touch with folk in the Canberra IA community, solved technical problems and participated in a 'net broadcast (narrowcast?) <a href="http://stilgherrian.com/live/">project</a>. With <a href="http://activerain.com/blogsview/712130/What-is-a-Hashtag">hashtags</a>, Twitter is good at adding an interactive dimension to live events, particularly broadcast, from relatively <a href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=newinventors">small scale</a> to <a href="http://current.com/topics/88834922_hack_the_debate">large scale</a>. It's a bit addictive. (I'm going to have to ignore the Amazing Race messages though; can't have spoilers)<br /><br />It's not all happy happy joy joy though. As with any social space, people disagree. I've seen spirited but respectful, concise debates (points would have to be concise with only 140 characters per message), and while I've not seen them, I'm sure there've been petty, snarky arguments too. <br /><br />Only a handful of posts I've seen have really disappointed me; one included a photo taken by the poster in a client's house and posted, ostensibly without permission, while another was a quixotic statement of indifference about an event a bunch of people were commenting on. The first was creepy; I'd be pretty angry if a tech support/tradie/whoever that I was paying for goods/services came into my place and started snapping away and putting the pictures online. The second was just a bit obnoxious, a personality quirk not entirely unexpected, in retrospect, amongst all of the extroverts revealing the minutiae of their lives online.<br /><br />I can't control what others do, I can only control how I react to what they do, so what did I do when I came across these two examples? With the first I tried subtlety; I asked what the client thought about having their stuff photographed and shared, and when I didn't like the answer, I un-followed. I let the other go like water under the bridge, but their reputation took a small hit with me. <br /><br /><blockquote><span style="font-style:italic;">"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil, is for good men to do nothing"</span> - <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmund_Burke#Quotations">not Edmund Burke</a></blockquote><br />Should I have done something else, something more? Should I have put an objection on the record before un-following? I've seen plenty of "Why should I follow you in return?" hand-shaking posts, but I've not come across any "I don't think that's cool, so I'm going to stop following you" posts. They're either happening in private direct messages, or not happening. I guess breaking up connections online is easy when you don't have to explain, but I can't help but think that the world might progressively become a little bit better if we each took the time to politely explain why we're un-following. If only a few have an introspective pause and stop being a dick online, then we're all better off. Deanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02151887649822821299noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3042187.post-37209710191280052382008-09-27T09:53:00.002+10:002008-09-27T09:59:40.729+10:00Singstar AmpedForget Singstar Hottest Hits. I've had some more time to consider the track list and it's still underwhleming. Not so for Singstar Amped. Spotted when I went to pick up Star Wars: The Force Unleashed last night, Amped has some tracks that'll really test your lung capacity & ability to hold a note: <br /><br />1. 4 Non Blondes - What's Up<br />2. Blink 182 - I Miss You<br />3. Blue Oyster Cult - Don't Fear The Reaer<br />4. Cheap Trick - I Want You To Want Me<br />5. Choirboys - Run To Paradise<br />6. David Bowie - Changes<br />7. Divynls - Boys In Town<br />8. <span style="font-weight:bold;">Faith No More - Evidence</span><br />9. Faker - This Heart Attack<br />10. Fallout Boy - This Ain't A Scene.. It's An Arms Race<br />11. Free - All Right Now<br />12. <span style="font-weight:bold;">Grinspoon - Chemical Heart</span><br />13. Iggy Pop - Real Wild Child<br />14. Judas Priest - Breaking The Law<br />15. Judas Priest - You've Got Another Thing Comin'<br />16. Kasabian - Lsf<br />17. Mighty Mighty Bosstones - The Impression That I Get<br />18. Quiet Riot - Cum On Feel The Noise<br />19. Regurgitator - Black Bugs<br />20. <span style="font-weight:bold;">Robert Palmer - Addicted To Love</span><br />21. <span style="font-weight:bold;">Silverchair - The Greatest View</span><br />22. Skunk Anansie - Weak As I Am<br />23. Soul Asylum - Runaway Train<br />24. Spiderbait - Blackbetty<br />25. The Cure - Primary<br />26. The Saints - I'm Stranded<br />27. The Subways - Rock & Roll Queen<br />28. <span style="font-weight:bold;">Tonic - If You Could Only See</span><br />29. T-rex - 20Th Century Boy<br />30. <span style="font-weight:bold;">Warrant - Cherry Pie</span><br /><br />Fun times.Deanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02151887649822821299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3042187.post-31324385801854464282008-09-25T18:39:00.002+10:002008-09-25T18:44:44.958+10:00Singstar Hottest HitsIt's been a while, but a new Singstar hit the streets today. Can't say much for the <a href="http://www.cheapgames.com.au/singstar-hottest-hits-p-2216.html">track list</a> though, I don't know most of 'em:<br /><br />ANNIE - I KNOW YOU'RE GIRLSFRIEND HATES ME <br />AVRIL LAVIGNE - WHEN YOU'RE GONE <br />CALVIN HARRIS - ACCEPTABLE IN THE 80S <br />COLBIE CAILLAT - BUBBLY <br />DELTA GOODREM - YOU WILL ONLY BREAK MY HEART <br />FALL OUT BOY - THNKS FR TH MMRS <br />FERGIE - CLUMSY <br />FINGER ELEVEN - PARALYZER <br />GABRIELLA CILMI - SWEET ABOUT ME <br />LILY ALLEN- LDN MAROON 5 - MAKES ME WONDER <br />MIKA - GRACE KELLY MIKA - LOVE TODAY <br />MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE - TEENAGERS <br />NELLY FURTADO - ALL GOOD THINGS <br />ONE NIGHT ONLY - JUST FOR TONIGHT <br />ONEREPUBLIC - STOP AND STARE <br />OPERATOR PLEASE - JUST A SONG ABOUT PINGPONG <br />POWDERFINGER - LOST AND RUNNING <br />RICKI LEE - CAN'T SING A DIFFERENT SONG <br />SAM SPARRO - BLACK AND GOLD <br />SEAN KINGSTON - BEAUTIFUL GIRLS <br />SNEAKY SOUND SYSTEM - PICTURES <br />SNOW PATROL - CHASING CARS <br />THE FRAY - HOW O SAVE A LIFE <br />THE POTBELLEEZ - DON'T HOLD BACK <br />THE TING TINGS - GREAT DJ <br />THE TING TINGS - THAT'S NOT MY NAME <br />VANESSA AMOROSIS - PERFECT <br />WILL.I.AM - I GOT IT FROM MY MAMADeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02151887649822821299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3042187.post-26851269121082787942008-09-13T15:34:00.003+10:002008-09-13T15:36:57.714+10:00Come to Albert HallIt's the launch of the Canberra Musicians Club and it's fun. Get here.Deanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02151887649822821299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3042187.post-30104493753686360342008-09-10T12:00:00.000+10:002008-09-10T12:00:00.505+10:00Lessons for Forms DesignersThis hit my work email box this week as a joke, but there's a lesson in there: pre-populated fields are good...<br /><br /><blockquote><span style="font-style:italic;">Dear Mr. Minister,<br /><br />I'm in the process of renewing my passport, and still cannot believe this.<br /><br />How is it that K-Mart has my address and telephone number, and knows that I bought a Television Set and Golf Clubs from them back in 1997, and yet, the Federal Government is still asking me where I was born and on what date. <br /><br />For Christ sakes, do you guys do this by hand?<br /><br />My birth date you have in my Medicare information, and it is on all the income tax forms I've filed for the past 40 years. It is on my driver's licence, on the last eight passports I've ever had, on all those stupid customs declaration forms I've had to fill out before being allowed off the planes over the last 30 years, and all those insufferable census forms that I've filled out every 5 years since 1966.<br /><br />Also...would somebody please take note, once and for all, that my mother's name is Audrey, my Father's name is Jack, and I'd be absolutely f?????g astounded if that ever changed between now and when I drop dead!!!...<br /><br />SHIT!<br /><br />I apologize, Mr. Minister. But I'm really pissed off this morning. Between you an' me, I've had enough of all this bullshit! <br /><br />You send the application to my house, then you ask me for my f?????g address!!<br /><br />What the hell is going on with your mob? Have you got a gang of mindless Neanderthal arseholes workin' there!<br /><br />And another thing..... look at my damn picture. Do I look like Bin Laden? I can't even grow a beard for God's sakes. I just want to go to New Zealand and see my friends and relatives<br /><br />And would someone please tell me, why would you give a shit whether I plan on visiting a farm in the next 15 days? If I ever got the urge to do something weird to a sheep or a horse, believe you me, I'd sure as hell not want to tell anyone!<br /><br />Well, I have to go now, 'cause I have to go to the other end of the city, and get another f?????g copy of my birth certificate, and to part with another $80 for the privilege of accessing MY OWN INFORMATION! <br /><br />Would it be so complicated to have all the services in the same spot, to assist in the issuance of a new passport on the same day?? <br /><br />Nooooo....... that'd be too f?????g easy and makes far too much sense. You would much prefer to have us running all over the place like chickens with our f?????g heads cut off, and then having to find some high society wanker to confirm that it's really me in the goddamn photo!<br /><br />You know the photo....the one where we're not allowed to smile?! ......you f?????g morons<br /><br /> <br /><br />Signed - An Irate Australian Citizen.<br /><br />P.S. Remember what I said above about the picture, and getting someone in high-society to confirm that it's me? Well, my family has been in this country since before 1850! <br /><br />In 1856, one of my forefathers took up arms with Peter Lalor. (You do remember the Eureka Stockade!!)<br /><br />I have also served in both the CMF and regular Army something over 30 years (I went to Vietnam in 1967), and still have high security clearances.<br /><br />I'm also a personal friend of the president of the RSL.... and Lt General Peter Cosgrove sends me a Christmas card each year.<br /><br />However, your rules require that I have to get someone 'important' to verify who I am;<br /><br />You know...... someone like my doctor; WHO WAS BORN AND RAISED IN F?????G PAKISTAN!!!........a country where they either assassinate or hang their ex-Prime Ministers, and are suspended from the Commonwealth for not having the 'right sort of government.' <br /><br />You are all F?????g idiots<br /><br />I'm done with this country it's easier to get into, than it is to get out of!<br /><br />I'm staying home as my relatives and friends don't have any trouble to get here to see me. </span></blockquote>Deanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02151887649822821299noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3042187.post-48591008738110776342008-09-09T21:20:00.001+10:002008-09-09T21:24:09.574+10:00Free Frag FestIf you love first-person shooters and you haven't tried <a href="http://combatarms.nexon.net/">Combat Arms</a> yet, what are you waiting for?<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/QeICl3EBl-s&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/QeICl3EBl-s&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Deanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02151887649822821299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3042187.post-3938551674306437312008-09-08T08:49:00.002+10:002008-09-09T21:27:59.540+10:00Melbourne Graffiti History at GasworksAh, the joy serendipitous discovery...<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/RT1EtM-tJrE&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/RT1EtM-tJrE&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Deanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02151887649822821299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3042187.post-34968824959290033952008-09-07T21:34:00.000+10:002008-09-09T21:38:33.331+10:00The VisitorIt's not often that a film can be so subtle and understated and yet be so moving. See it.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/mGjjx3WMmSE&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/mGjjx3WMmSE&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Deanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02151887649822821299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3042187.post-44674535332978059562008-09-06T12:45:00.004+10:002008-09-06T12:49:28.590+10:0012 Hours of Local Tunes<a href="http://www.canberramusiciansclub.org.au/index.html">Canberra Musicians Club launch next weekend.</a> Get amongst it.<br /><br /> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRX7U_zxX2l4dFON1hQ3yiLad47oWr2pSfRYJwuzNEFsWzhNZjChH8CdGq6BHBu7n3tAq3fhpvyUd-MM4jIP9WbLzALOW47vbK3wXT6Y5Yhjmj0sjHLczhaqzKzTizLhNVIn2R/s1600-h/posterbma.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRX7U_zxX2l4dFON1hQ3yiLad47oWr2pSfRYJwuzNEFsWzhNZjChH8CdGq6BHBu7n3tAq3fhpvyUd-MM4jIP9WbLzALOW47vbK3wXT6Y5Yhjmj0sjHLczhaqzKzTizLhNVIn2R/s400/posterbma.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242734220433935410" /></a>Deanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02151887649822821299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3042187.post-4389399968271866032008-08-26T08:05:00.001+10:002008-08-26T08:05:41.436+10:00Stand-up comedy at the old Manuka Starbucks<style type="text/css">.flickr-photo { }.flickr-frame { float: left; text-align: center; margin-right: 15px; margin-bottom: 15px; }.flickr-caption { font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px; }</style><div class="flickr-frame"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/deanlk/2798061124/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3109/2798061124_025e709064_t.jpg" class="flickr-photo" alt="Stand-up comedy at the old Manuka Starbucks" /></a><br /> <span class="flickr-caption"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/deanlk/2798061124/">Stand-up comedy at the old Manuka Starbucks</a>,<br /> originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/deanlk/">deanlk</a>. </span></div>On again tonight if you missed it last night. Top turnout.<br clear="all" />Deanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02151887649822821299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3042187.post-59168291535979680732008-08-15T17:57:00.002+10:002008-08-15T18:03:02.551+10:00Live the OlympicsI thought he'd peaked with his second set of tram work, but then his floor routine...<br /><br /><div><object width="420" height="357"><param name="movie" value="http://www.dailymotion.com/swf/k6l38SC3FbofsekBtV&related=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.dailymotion.com/swf/k6l38SC3FbofsekBtV&related=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="420" height="357" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always"></embed></object><br /><b><a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2x92r_gymnastique-pekin-2008-remi-gaillar">GYMNASTIQUE PEKIN 2008 (REMI GAILLARD)</a></b><br /><i>Uploaded by <a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/nqtv">nqtv</a></i></div><br /><br />[Thanks Cam]Deanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02151887649822821299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3042187.post-90493750013183103342008-08-13T23:43:00.005+10:002008-08-15T18:11:35.941+10:00Looking for quiet in the rush<a href="http://www.lauren-hewitt.com/index.html">Lauren</a> put on a captivating show at <a href="http://www.pechakuchacanberra.com/">Pecha Kucha Canberra</a> #4 tonight. Amongst the machine gun fire of poorly prepared "this is a picture of" and "here's some guy I met when I was travelling" presentations, Lauren's slides had everyone in the room transfixed, silent save for the occasional whispered gasp and <a href="http://www.lauren-hewitt.com/gallery1/gallery1.html">"Oh cool"</a>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/deanlk/2764267169/" title="Lauren at Pecha Kucha Canberra by deanlk, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3058/2764267169_3dd9bd741b_m.jpg" alt="Lauren at Pecha Kucha Canberra" width="240" height="180" /></a><br /></div><br />or as I said elsewhere<br /><br />"You were an island of serenity and grace in a lake of frantic clowns and hippies."Deanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02151887649822821299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3042187.post-4583714198142163332008-08-03T20:23:00.008+10:002008-08-03T23:51:35.612+10:00Too hungry to waitAfter hitting the Fyshwick markets today and being denied a Vietnamese iced coffee I decided to do something asian tonight. <br /><br />Basic chicken stir-fry:<br /><br />Chicken strips 500g <br />Prawns 150g precooked & peeled<br />Capsicums - 3 (1 red, 1 green, 1 yellow) - sliced<br />Onions - 2 - sliced<br />Carrot - sliced<br />Sugar peas<br />Baby corn<br />Coriander<br />Teriyaki sauce<br />Udon noodles<br /><br />Marinade chicken and prawns in teriyaki sauce for about a half hour. Preheat wok and cook chicken and prawns. Throw in the baby corn, carrot and sugar peas. Pluck the leaves off the coriander and chop the stems. Throw the onions, capsicum and coriander stems into the wok.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihBeR24R5SHKwAnN36M4aVZ2kO6fMCKq4gA52VbO2xXjt0gO-9P0RSShCC0qbCzSYfe5PyQH_zAGeWb8Q6rY5TzWhDZ_ihtmQlCcjCWKwMcI53xqu0k4r-oVYxtgReppTwptDn/s1600-h/IMG_2060.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihBeR24R5SHKwAnN36M4aVZ2kO6fMCKq4gA52VbO2xXjt0gO-9P0RSShCC0qbCzSYfe5PyQH_zAGeWb8Q6rY5TzWhDZ_ihtmQlCcjCWKwMcI53xqu0k4r-oVYxtgReppTwptDn/s200/IMG_2060.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230287965614220738" /></a><br /><br />Put the noodles into a bowl and cover with boiling water to prep for a minute. Separate, drain and throw the noodles into the wok. Stir through for a minute or two. <br /><br />Serve into bowls and garnish with coriander leaves. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1suFNto4T7MavH8DqaXuNGFf6O2cV0E-LNzoRJZNgCgUxGpIABhuIhcUSU4JlM4NFOaMODbN0VycOHoVjJYGUelexiZcTJx8TaT0zuSlVY-WSb_WXQlnPIyYPQrceSH_rnZW7/s1600-h/IMG_2081.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1suFNto4T7MavH8DqaXuNGFf6O2cV0E-LNzoRJZNgCgUxGpIABhuIhcUSU4JlM4NFOaMODbN0VycOHoVjJYGUelexiZcTJx8TaT0zuSlVY-WSb_WXQlnPIyYPQrceSH_rnZW7/s200/IMG_2081.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230288355271933874" /></a>Deanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02151887649822821299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3042187.post-13167308450378467672008-08-01T12:00:00.000+10:002008-08-01T12:00:01.346+10:00More Wall Wisdom<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cactusdude666/2706140102/" title="Making social capital by cactusdude666/, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3175/2706140102_cc3b309b6b.jpg" width="500" height="376" alt="Making social capital " /></a>Deanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02151887649822821299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3042187.post-2527346771578356372008-07-31T15:01:00.002+10:002008-07-31T15:06:31.212+10:00Love > Undead<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/uKr_vuBv7Pw&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/uKr_vuBv7Pw&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/7XMBGYsU1lI&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/7XMBGYsU1lI&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />[<a href="http://www.metafilter.com/73699/Zombie-juice">via</a>]Deanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02151887649822821299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3042187.post-13939812139973088862008-07-29T20:09:00.003+10:002008-07-29T20:17:17.882+10:00Other Peoples' LivesFinished Sam De Brito's <span style="font-style:italic;"><a href="http://www.timeoutsydney.com.au/books/reviews/the-lost-boys-sam-de-brito.aspx">The Lost Boys</a></span> late last night. Good, easy read, but dark, bleak with a few laughs. Black comedy or just a reminder of high school? Not sure. <br /><br />What's next? Do I try and rip through the free copy of <span style="font-style:italic;"><a href="http://nla.gov.au/anbd.bib-an42270372">Boned</a></span> I got with my Crikey renewal or do I try and find Kate Atkinson's <span style="font-style:italic;"><a href="http://shop.abc.net.au/browse/product.asp?productid=514581">Case Histories</a></span> for book club?Deanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02151887649822821299noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3042187.post-53763674038863233852008-07-28T21:43:00.002+10:002008-07-29T19:39:34.561+10:00Two Guys From A BookstoreA few weeks ago I picked up a bunch of Bill Bailey and Dylan Moran stand-up DVDs from JB. I've only gotten around to them in the last few days, but they've been worth the wait. Dylan Moran's stuff makes me want to become a daytime pub guy and write down the random thoughts and then get paid to say them.<br /><br />From Bill Bailey's <span style="font-style:italic;">Part Troll</span>:<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/AiEcFEHmycA&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/AiEcFEHmycA&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><br />From Dylan Moran's <span style="font-style:italic;">Monster</span>:<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/m-dTgR1BR2c&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/m-dTgR1BR2c&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />And from Dylan Moran's <span style="font-style:italic;">Like, Totally</span>:<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/kPEOzBrep2I&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/kPEOzBrep2I&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/jeM7FkPISZM&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/jeM7FkPISZM&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Deanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02151887649822821299noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3042187.post-76538090252687677632008-07-07T21:19:00.003+10:002008-07-07T22:13:22.206+10:00Ready, Steady, WaitWith colleagues dropping left and right to dreaded winter bugs, long days and eating badly on the run, yesterday I decided I needed some good food to see me through to the Sydney trip next week. In true bachelor cooking style, both of these dishes are easy prep and easy cooking.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">24 Hour Casserole</span><br /><br />I used:<br /><br />500g diced beef<br />6 small potatoes<br />2 celery sticks<br />1 large carrot<br />1 small punnet of button mushrooms (about 250g I'd say)<br />2 cloves of garlic<br />2 small onions<br />250g / handful green beans<br />2 litres (8 cups) vegetable stock<br />1 cup (ish) cleanskin pinot noir<br />1 sprig of rosemary<br />1 slow cooker<br /><br />Preparation:<br /><br />Slice potatoes, carrots, mushrooms, garlic & onions.<br />Chunk celery, beans.<br /><br />Cooking:<br /><br />Pour vege stock and whatever red wine you haven't managed to finish off into the slow cooker. <br />Put everything else into the slow cooker.<br />Turn slow cooker on to Low.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Wait.</span><br /><br /><br />I let mine bubble away for 24 hours, but it's probably ready to go in 12. When I came home tonight there was still some liquid, but most had been soaked up by the vegies and meat and the flavour was so intense. It was awesome. I guess you could serve with rice or similar, but I just had a bowl of it by itself, and then another half bowl. More imaginative serving suggestions welcomed.<br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Smokey Soup</span><br /><br />I used:<br /><br />2 cans Big Red tomato soup.<br />Milk<br />1 200g pack Latina ricotta & spinach filled agnolotti (any non-meat-filled pasta would do) <br />100g prosciutto<br />Chopped basil and parsley<br /><br />Preparation:<br /><br />Boil water for pasta<br />Chop herbs<br />Slice prosciutto into strips<br />Open cans with ring-pull<br />Turn on stove top<br /><br />Cooking:<br /><br />Cook the pasta in one saucepan while heating the tomato soup in another. I whisked milk into the soup instead of the suggested half-milk, half-water combo. <br />Stir the prosciutto and chopped basil and parsley into the tomato soup.<br />When the pasta is done, ladel the pieces into the soup.<br />Turn the heat down and just keep stirring the soup for another 5 minutes or so to let the flavour of the prosciutto soak through everything.<br /><br />Serve into bowls with a crusty bread roll on the side. I topped my bowl with shaved parmesan cheese.<br /><br />Today the soup had an extra-smokey flavour from the prosciutto and was a great to have for lunch while watching the cold rain drizzle down outside.Deanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02151887649822821299noreply@blogger.com1