Hey, you're always asking me where I find stuff...
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
Little Link List 10
How to fold a T-Shirt - watch and learn;
FINALLY! - a web-based Java version of Quake 2;
A friend of mine has had an article published - "My Say: Rethinking the National Economic Policy".
FINALLY! - a web-based Java version of Quake 2;
A friend of mine has had an article published - "My Say: Rethinking the National Economic Policy".
Friday, November 25, 2005
Organising to leave
Crikey there's a lot to do. At the moment I'm spending about half the day looking for a job. But's that just one part of it - we have to rent out our house, we have to find a home for the cat, we need to work out what to pack and what to send, we'll have to tidy the house, organise health cover in Hong Kong, book flights, excess baggage etc. etc.
Only 43 days to go.
I'm worrying most about the cat.
Only 43 days to go.
I'm worrying most about the cat.
Wednesday, November 23, 2005
Little Link List 9.0
Look - coloured bubbles!;
Whatever you do - don't stand next to the Christmas Tree in Federation Square with a camera;
Invertebrate triumphs over vertebrate - Octopus vs Shark.
Whatever you do - don't stand next to the Christmas Tree in Federation Square with a camera;
Invertebrate triumphs over vertebrate - Octopus vs Shark.
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
It's official - we're going to Honkers!
Teresa's been offered, and has accepted, a job in Hong Kong. We'll be leaving in mid-January. We'll be gone for at least a year. Which means of course that I'll have to find a job. So if you know anyone in Hong Kong who needs someone like me, please drop me a line in the comments.
Monday, November 21, 2005
The Massively Self-Organising Catalogue
Otherwise known as "Google Base". It's been up for a while, and it's pretty much what I thought it would be - a way for anyone to upload their items to Google and guarantee they get indexed. So now online merchants don't need to own host their own catalogue anymore. Soon they'll open it up so people can develop their own services off the listings. Interestingly, Google realised that very quickly they would end up with lists of millions of out-of-date items. So they wrote this:
Most types of items (such as products, services, housing, autos, wanted ads, jobs, travel, events, and news) automatically expire after 30 days.There really isnt much excuse left for a small business not to have an ecommerce capability anymore...
Thursday, November 17, 2005
I was there, it was good
So - yesterday we flew to Sydney, met Seth, went to the Stadium, and then we watched the game.
It was fantastic. 82,000 people all jammed into the Olympic Stadium, screaming ourselves hoarse for 120 minutes of game time, and a lifetime of penalties. In the end we won. Australia 1, Uruguay 0 (Australia qualified on penalties 4-2).
I was going to link to all manner of articles, but stuff it. All I will say is - the game was so enthralling and exciting I saw grown men running to and from the toilets so they missed as little as possible, and at half-time I saw fellow Australians leave the queues for the bar without actually buying any beer because they were afraid they would miss the start of the second half.
It was fantastic. 82,000 people all jammed into the Olympic Stadium, screaming ourselves hoarse for 120 minutes of game time, and a lifetime of penalties. In the end we won. Australia 1, Uruguay 0 (Australia qualified on penalties 4-2).
I was going to link to all manner of articles, but stuff it. All I will say is - the game was so enthralling and exciting I saw grown men running to and from the toilets so they missed as little as possible, and at half-time I saw fellow Australians leave the queues for the bar without actually buying any beer because they were afraid they would miss the start of the second half.
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
Little Link List 8
War, lies and Jane Fonda - Rick Perlstein reviews a book about Fonda and the Vietnam War;
Imagine being detained in Guantanamo - even after the US military tribunal found that you were innocent;
In Hong Kong groups of apartment buildings that all look the same are extraordinarily close together.
Imagine being detained in Guantanamo - even after the US military tribunal found that you were innocent;
In Hong Kong groups of apartment buildings that all look the same are extraordinarily close together.
Qualifier Resignation
It's going to be hard. Very hard to stop Uruguay from scoring. Their coach signalled that he would rather defend their one-goal lead, but I can't see it - one goal isn't much to defend, so I think they will go for another goal, and once they get it they'll sit back and defend what is effectively a three-goal advantage (away goals rule).
But, I will be there tomorrow night, and hopefully it will be fantastic.
But, I will be there tomorrow night, and hopefully it will be fantastic.
Housekeeping Update
If you're reading this post, you've successfully found my new domain. Fresh, isn't it?
Housekeeping
I'm moving my blog - I've got a domain with more storage and better facilities and I think I might dump this Optusnet account soon.
So, my blog will be moving here: http://www.ithappenedhere.info/blog/
Please update your bookmark (if you have one).
So, my blog will be moving here: http://www.ithappenedhere.info/blog/
Please update your bookmark (if you have one).
Monday, November 14, 2005
Qualifier Anxiety Anxiety
So the Socceroos lost 0-1 vs Uruguay on Sunday morning. It was 90 of the worst minutes of my life (spent watching football). I didn't enjoy anything about the game. I just lay there in the hotel bed in Kilmore, grinding my teeth and wishing it for it to be over. I even considered turning off the TV. Part of my fear was the thought that if Uruguay knocked in more than one goal the decider in Sydney would be incredibly difficult and I'd have spent $ on attending a match that was over before it began. Which is a bit selfish, but hey - I did think it.
In the end I was relieved that the team managed to stop Uruguay from scoring again. But I have no confidence at all now. Recoba is just too good.
In the end I was relieved that the team managed to stop Uruguay from scoring again. But I have no confidence at all now. Recoba is just too good.
Friday, November 11, 2005
Qualifier Anxiety
This Sunday Australia plays Uruguay in the first leg of the World Cup Qualifier. I spent last night dreaming over and over about the game.
These qualifying matches are one of the few sporting events I really care about. Every four years I get very exceited and then have my hopes dashed.
I still remember Australia vs Argentina - I watched it on television. I remember Robbie Slater running hard at the Argentine defence, Aurelio Vidmar scoring, and Maradona making one sublime cross that resulted in an away goal for the Argentinians and effectively killed any chance we could qualify (given that the return leg in Argentina was always going to be incredibly difficult to win).
And then four years later I was at the MCG for the second leg vs Iran. It was an incredible night - 80,000 people going crazy. We were leading 2-0, then Peter Hore tore down the net, Iran scored 2 goals, and we were out. I felt numb.
Four years later - again at the MCG to play Uruguay. We won 1-0, but I felt a bit apprehensive. The team didn't play that well, and it was always going to be hard against Uruguay at home in the second leg. They smashed us.
This time around it feels like we have the best chance we've ever had to qualify. I'll be going to Sydney for the second leg. Which will either be a wonderful night or an absolute disaster. No wonder I'm feeling anxious.
These qualifying matches are one of the few sporting events I really care about. Every four years I get very exceited and then have my hopes dashed.
I still remember Australia vs Argentina - I watched it on television. I remember Robbie Slater running hard at the Argentine defence, Aurelio Vidmar scoring, and Maradona making one sublime cross that resulted in an away goal for the Argentinians and effectively killed any chance we could qualify (given that the return leg in Argentina was always going to be incredibly difficult to win).
And then four years later I was at the MCG for the second leg vs Iran. It was an incredible night - 80,000 people going crazy. We were leading 2-0, then Peter Hore tore down the net, Iran scored 2 goals, and we were out. I felt numb.
Four years later - again at the MCG to play Uruguay. We won 1-0, but I felt a bit apprehensive. The team didn't play that well, and it was always going to be hard against Uruguay at home in the second leg. They smashed us.
This time around it feels like we have the best chance we've ever had to qualify. I'll be going to Sydney for the second leg. Which will either be a wonderful night or an absolute disaster. No wonder I'm feeling anxious.
Tuesday, November 08, 2005
Travel With Pandas
Simon (the noted Melbourne absurdist playright) has been travelling in New Zealand. He started a blog, but he didn't really do much with it. Fortunately his travelling companion has been writing down Simon's every move.
** Update** - it turns out the above links aren't worth a damn because the Lonely Planet's journal software generates them automatically or something and after a while you can't use them anymore. That's pretty braindead. It means people can't link to journal entries. Oh well - if you try the link you'll get a terrible error message and a link to "HOME", which if you follow it will take you to the journal entries that feature Simon. I'd apologise but it's not my fault - blame the Lonely Planet.
** Update Update ** - George, the writer of the travel journal, has kindly given me a link to his journal homepage.
In honour of Simon's blog, a picture:
** Update** - it turns out the above links aren't worth a damn because the Lonely Planet's journal software generates them automatically or something and after a while you can't use them anymore. That's pretty braindead. It means people can't link to journal entries. Oh well - if you try the link you'll get a terrible error message and a link to "HOME", which if you follow it will take you to the journal entries that feature Simon. I'd apologise but it's not my fault - blame the Lonely Planet.
** Update Update ** - George, the writer of the travel journal, has kindly given me a link to his journal homepage.
In honour of Simon's blog, a picture:
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