Radio Baily

Hey Microsoft...

paulnojustpaul — 2009-06-22T08:35:37+10:00

...your desperate is showing.

Rather pathetic attempt by Microsoft Australia to try to counter their steadily eroding browser marketshare, noted in El Reg.

New toy.

paulnojustpaul — 2009-06-22T07:56:51+10:00

Kathy bought me an early birthday present! Take a look at this bad boy.

Phono out, line out, USB out, and of course on the Mac, no drivers need apply.

And before you ask where the second turntable and the microphone are, yes that is a slip mat but this critter’s just for getting my last box of records on to hard disk.

Yesterday's storm.

paulnojustpaul — 2009-06-16T07:59:13+10:00

We love storms. I know, very Adams Family, anyways, a few pics from the balcony.

Very nice having the elevation and a big sky to catch the leading and trailing edge of a cell. This one dropped about 20mm in 10 mins a little south of us.

The other Great Southern Land.

paulnojustpaul — 2009-05-25T19:39:22+10:00

One of my co-workers is on safari in the other (or perhaps the original) Great Southern Land, Africa.

Some say he can get a Toyota Yaris to 160km/h - and keep it there.
Some say he can see through time.
We know him as Farmer Ben.

Fascinating read of his travels here, but you really ought to just add his blog to your bookmarks.

Has a good outlook on things. Might learn something.

...and of course, can’t mention Great Southern Land without this:

Nice art.

paulnojustpaul — 2009-05-25T18:48:13+10:00

Kick. Ass.

Fascinating read and more art straight from the horses mouth here.

Back in the Marathon groove.

paulnojustpaul — 2009-05-06T09:57:00+10:00

You know you’re getting back into the Marathon groove when you’re clearing out a postmaster account, using your right hand on delete, and the fingers on your left hand are feeling their way towards Z, X, option and space[1].

[1] - strafe left, strafe right, fire secondary, fire primary respectively. :-)

Supermarket womble identification guide.

paulnojustpaul — 2009-04-15T12:02:49+10:00

I’m one of those weird folk who actually like grocery shopping. Since we have a couple of good supermarkets almost directly on the way home I find it easy just doing quick daily shops for anything we’re running short on or provisions for whatever Kathy or I feel like cooking for dinner that night. It’s almost a part of the post-work-day wind down.

Now, with that out of the way, may I offer my guide for spotting wombles at supermarkets:

Womblus Obstructae:

Identified by the distinctive behaviour of stopping just after the turnstile entry but before the cattle run has ended; usually to check a list or trying to identify where they should go first (hint: about two steps straight ahead, thanks.) Closely related to Womblus Oblivius.

Womblus Oblivius:

Very common, has many identifying characteristics, such as lacking any peripheral vision - or forward vision for that matter. Careful though, these wily critters do have perception of movement behind them and will unfailingly move to block any attempts to go around them, stopping when you stop, moving when you move. All the while maintaining a slightly vacant breathe-in-now-breathe-out expression.

Womblus Excrutium:

One needs to travel carefully through supermarket aisles as you are being watched. If it is determined that you have spent too much time in one place, miniature wombles are deployed and soon track you down, emitting a screeching call. If you are detected early enough in your expedition, a pack of WE’s will keep pace with you down each aisle. Strangely, these wombles ignore other wombles.

Womblus Velocis:

These miniature animals are seen flitting around corners, down aisles and across the ends of aisles in an attempt to slow your progress, thereby attracting the Womblus Excrutia. Be careful, if you accidentally trip up or knock one of these with a shopping basket, all of a sudden you’re the bad guy.

Womblus Defusis also known as Womblus Locatiae:

Want to know where the basmati rice is down this aisle? Just look for this critter as they will be standing - with trolley - directly in front to that section preventing any access. They will also be quite still, concentrating profusely on something, wondering which rice to pick as if picking which wire to cut first on a bomb. They will spend quite some time doing this, and may even use a mobile phone to consult - loudly - with another womble on said wires. These can also been seen staring at a small slip of paper offered by mechanical altars known as “ATMs” that have declined to offer other small slips of paper.

Wombilus Acquaintus:

These animals arrive separately (or indeed in separate packs) but eventually cross tracks, stop all motion, and communicate endlessly on what they did that day, what they may do the next day, what little snowflake has done today, or the progress of each others’ hatchlings. They will do this standing across from each other thereby forming a barrier across an aisle, and adopt the same sight characteristics as Wombilus Oblivius.

Wombilus Obsticulae:

Related to Wombilus Obstructiae, this animal uses inanimate objects known as “trolleys” to achieve their goal. When grazing they will leave their trolley either precisely in the middle of an aisle or more often at an angle - usually 90° - to the aisle thereby safely preventing any progress. When moving, they are prone to perform sudden U-turns when followed, or walk at a slow pace beside the trolley rather than behind it. This is sometimes aided by the presence of one or more Womblus Velocis or Wombilus Excrutium.

There are other classifications that you will undoubtedly encounter, and indeed combinations of the above, but suffice is to say that this entry has been sitting as a draft for too long. Word must be got out, people must be cautioned.

Pick o' the day.

paulnojustpaul — 2009-04-12T19:23:20+10:00

Youtube’s “embedding disabled” feature sucks.

The Presets’ track This Boy’s in Love has that much anti-suck that I’ll link to it anyway.

Have at it!

So wrong and yet...

paulnojustpaul — 2009-04-01T18:31:21+10:00

Jambezi rocks!

paulnojustpaul — 2009-03-19T11:26:15+10:00

Jambezi are a band I’d never heard of before Tuesday when they played a gig on campus for Harmony Day. I could hear them in the office and had to walk outside to see what they were like. Such an amazingly energetic, uplifting sound, and they looked like they were having a ball too!

Have a listen here, their website is here with more samples here.

The true art of listening...

paulnojustpaul — 2009-03-19T11:20:57+10:00

...is being willing to change your mind.

Been listening to Kathy’s Supertramp collection the last couple of days. Yes, Supertramp. And it’s really well made stuff too.

You couldn't buy publicity like this.

paulnojustpaul — 2009-03-04T13:05:39+10:00

On the front page of news.com.au today:

Some days, the comedy just writes itself.

Phone Voice Recognition tip

paulnojustpaul — 2009-02-04T08:54:43+10:00

Here’s a handy tip when dealing with those voice driven menus. This particular one was with Suncorp but it likely works with many. If you want to get straight through to their superannuation consultants, just say this:

“change to existing motor vehicle policy”

:-)

Interesting sidenote, they scored perfectly on customer service. The consultant took all my details, then asked me to hold while he transferred me to a pre-briefed insurance consultant. Many other companies would have just bunted me to the back of the insurance call queue.

The summer of us.

paulnojustpaul — 2009-01-25T19:29:52+10:00

Two weeks ago, things were their normal, blissful, er- normality.

Things have changed.

Tuesday we signed the lease on a beautiful new house. Instant connection when we went to take a look: wide open spaces, views forever, on a cul de sac off a cul de sac.

Wednesday, left my ~~shitebox~~ troubled child of an aged car with a dealer and picked up a gorgeous little brand spanker that does everything we want without so much as a shrug of the shoulders.

And the best part? I get to do all of this with my beautiful wife Kathy.

Happy Birthday Mac!

paulnojustpaul — 2009-01-24T00:00:01+10:00

25 years ago today, the Macintosh was unleashed on the world.

Saving the world one computer at a time.

MWSF final Apple keynote.

paulnojustpaul — 2009-01-07T10:48:53+10:00

Didn’t see this one coming:

Apple Introduces Revolutionary New Laptop With No Keyboard

Happy New Year!

paulnojustpaul — 2009-01-07T10:48:27+10:00

An oldie but a goodie.

paulnojustpaul — 2008-12-19T08:01:02+10:00

So wrong, and yet...

paulnojustpaul — 2008-11-10T18:03:05+10:00

Tank, load the jump program.

paulnojustpaul — 2008-11-06T18:28:57+10:00

This man could out-Neo Neo.