It seems like only yesterday you came into my life

[listening to: Stop - Omar Naber ]
4:18:36 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • Random

Silly quiz time.

You Are a Snarky Blogger!

You've got a razor sharp wit that bloggers are secretly scared of. And that's why they read your posts as often as they can!

[listening to: Lorrain - Kaffe ]
1:39:02 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • Random

I was brushing my teeth rather vigoursly the other evening and a filling popped out. I went to my local dentist on Friday to have the damage inspected and hopefully get it repaired.

As I sat in the chair, I was amazed at the amount of technology he had available - he was using a poking around in my mouth with what looked like a handheld mini camera and was looking at the image on a lcd monitor above my head. It was really cool.

He then, somehow, had a model of my mouth and was zooming around in what looked like a 3rd vrml world inhabited by giant teeth, a tongue and a river of saliva -- OMG it was my mouth!. He showed me what the gap looked like, how my bite was affected and what the options were to repair the damage. It was like looking at a model of a soon to be built house, but it a visualization of my teeth and gums. Amazing.

I wanted a picture of it (so that I could post it on my blog of course) but he didnt give it to me. Maybe it's for the best.

[listening to: Radio Death Song - Mark Seymour ]
6:44:26 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • Geek • Health

My family and I are heading down the highway to Canberra to attend a memorial service and funeral for my brother-in-law Alan Wilson. this is the first funeral my kids have attended.

Alan passed away last week. Alan was the husband of my wife's sister, Bernadette. Alan was 7 days older than me, which always amused us, as our wive's birthdays were a week apart as well.

The notice in The Canberra Times read as follows:

WILSON Alan James 11.11.1963 14.6.2005 Loved husband of Bernadette. Loving father of Morgan, Brendan and Caitlin. Cherished son of Betty and Ivan (Invercargill NZ). Fond brother of David and Steven and much loved uncle to their children. Son-in-law of Peter and Alma Brice, brother-in-law and uncle to the Brice clan. We miss you Kiwi. Family and friends are invited to attend a Thanksgiving Service for the life of Alan to be held at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Strangways St, Curtin on TUESDAY, June 21, 2005 commencing at 1.30pm. Burial will follow at the Woden Cemetery. No flowers by request. In lieu, donations may be made to: beyondblue PO Box 6100 Hawthorn West Victoria, 3122

The beyondblue reference should be a clue behind his passing away. It's a shame he never tuned into the dead serious podcasts.

[listening to: Y Asi - Global Kryner ]
9:51:21 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • Family

I read an article today "Alarm over slow digital take-up" reporting on the Goverment committee investigating as to why the take-up of digital TV has been so slow.

I'll tell you why. No need for a committee. The curent content is crap. I am one of those early adopter folks who has a digital tuner and there is nothing compelling about it. The networks are so arrogant they dont do a good job at the basic stuff regarding program information listings. Channel 7 doesn't bother having any information, Channel 9 has it all in UPPERCASE, with only Channel 10 providing any additional information, as do the ABC and SBS (but I guess they HAVE TO since they are government bodies). Each network has multiple channels and apart from ABC and SBS (again) they don't provide anything extra. It is just crap, crap, crap. 

The dumb networks have grabbed special channels - 100 for Channel 10, 77 for Channel 7, 99 for Channel 9 to act as their EPG channel which is a static channel showing what's on that particular channel. There is another channel which shows what's on all the channels. So we have all these channels telling you what's on but in reality there's nothing really on. It's a good thing my digital box has a bunch of games on it too.

The fact that a committee is sitting in Canberra pontificating on this is even more amusing. Ask a consumer not the folks with vested interests.

[listening to: Do What You Want (Bonus) - Black Eyed Peas ]
8:09:07 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • TV

Have a read of this article by Mark Pesce.

OMG! OMG! OMG! I love this guy!!!

After you have read Part 1, make sure you also read Part 2

Don't know who Mark is? - Mark Pesce is the co-creator of the Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML) - the first 3D interface to the internet - and the founder of the Interactive Media Program at USC's School of Cinema-Television. In 2000, Ballantine Books published Pesce's The Playful World: How Technology is Transforming our Imagination, which explored the world of interactivity through a detailed examination of the Furby, LEGO’s Mindstorms and the Playstation 2. In late 2003, Pesce was invited to the Australian Film Television and Radio School, with a mandate to redesign the curriculum to incorporate the new opportunities offered by interactive media.

[listening to: They Don't Want Music - Black Eyed Peas ]
7:39:05 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • TV

While I was off work, I bought a bunch of 'toys' to amuse me, or to play with my kids

• Darth Tater
• USB Mini Desktop Aquarium
• Bender Wind-ups
• Uber Orbs
• Geek Awareness Bracelet
• Star Wars Lego (XB0X)
• Star Wars Republic Commando (XBOX)
• Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords (XBOX)
• Darth Vader Transformation (Lego)
• Clone Scout Walker (Lego)
• Captain Redbeard's Pirate Ship (Lego)

[listening to: Audio Delite at Low Fidelity - Black Eyed Peas ]
9:37:56 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • Family • Geek

I really like this stat. It shows quarters won and loss by the Saints during Season 2005. So far, they are ahead. The 2nd quarter seems to be a problem so far, as the boys have lost more than they won. Hmmmm

[listening to: Run & Hide - Gracia ]
5:04:25 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • My Hobbies

After 12 rounds, the Saints have won 6 and lost 6 - This is what the season looks like so far:

2005 Wins

Round 5	v Richmond		22.15 (147)	to	11.13 (79)	by	68	points at Telstra Dome
Round 4	v Melbourne		23.13 (151)	to	15.14 (104)	by	47	points at Telstra Dome
Round 12	v Hawthorn		15.10 (100)	to	8.6 (54)	by	46	points at Melbourne Cricket Ground
Round 10	v Sydney		15.11 (101)	to	8.10 (58)	by	43	points at Telstra Dome
Round 6	v Collingwood		16.13 (109)	to	10.11 (71)	by	38	points at Melbourne Cricket Ground
Round 2	v Fremantle		8.11 (59)	to	8.10 (58)	by	1	points at Aurora Stadium

Average margin: 40.50

[listening to: Sunset (Bird of Prey) - Fatboy Slim ]
3:58:52 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • My Hobbies

While I was off work, I watched a lot of AFL. Half the season is over, and I am sure you were wondering how the Saints have gone. Well, after 12 rounds they won 6 and they lost 6

Rnd	Home Team									Away Team							Ground	Date
R1	Brisbane Lions	4.1	10.5	14.5	18.8	(116)		dftd		St Kilda	2.4	6.6	12.11	13.15	(93)		Gabba	Mar 24 (Thu 7:40pm)	Details
R2	St Kilda	1.0	5.4	6.6	8.11	(59)		dftd		Fremantle	1.3	6.3	7.7	8.10	(58)		Aurora Stadium	Apr 3 (Sun 1:10pm)	Details
R3	St Kilda	3.3	7.5	12.7	14.9	(93)		lost to		Kangaroos	2.2	6.3	10.7	15.10	(100)		Telstra Dome	Apr 9 (Sat 2:10pm)	Details
R4	St Kilda	7.2	9.4	16.9	23.13	(151)		dftd		Melbourne	5.6	9.11	13.13	15.14	(104)		Telstra Dome	Apr 17 (Sun 2:10pm)	Details
R5	St Kilda	8.2	13.5	18.11	22.15	(147)		dftd		Richmond	3.4	5.8	8.10	11.13	(79)		Telstra Dome	Apr 24 (Sun 5:10pm)	Details
R6	Collingwood	2.5	6.6	8.11	10.11	(71)		lost to		St Kilda	1.4	8.7	12.9	16.13	(109)		Melbourne Cricket Ground	May 1 (Sun 2:10pm)	Details
R7	Geelong	4.1	7.5	11.8	18.11	(119)		dftd		St Kilda	5.2	10.6	13.9	15.11	(101)		Telstra Dome	May 7 (Sat 2:10pm)	Details
R8	West Coast	4.3	9.5	11.7	13.10	(88)		dftd		St Kilda	1.2	2.4	4.7	7.10	(52)		Subiaco	May 14 (Sat 4:10pm)	Details
R9	St Kilda	5.2	5.4	8.6	8.9	(57)		lost to		Adelaide	1.2	7.3	13.7	15.13	(103)		Telstra Dome	May 20 (Fri 7:40pm)	Details
R10	St Kilda	4.1	5.6	9.8	15.11	(101)		dftd		Sydney	1.0	3.1	6.6	8.10	(58)		Telstra Dome	May 28 (Sat 7:10pm)	Details
R11	St Kilda	3.2	6.6	10.11	11.15	(81)		lost to		Port Adelaide	7.3	13.4	15.5	16.8	(104)		Aurora Stadium	Jun 5 (Sun 1:10pm)	Details
R12	Hawthorn	1.3	4.4	5.4	8.6	(54)		lost to		St Kilda	5.2	8.6	13.8	15.10	(100)		Melbourne Cricket Ground	Jun 11 (Sat 2:10pm)	Details

[listening to: Talking Bout My Baby - Fatboy Slim ]
3:44:49 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • My Hobbies

While I was off work, I read a bunch of books. They were:

• Players, by Tony Wilson
• Market Forces, by Richard Morgan
• Phaic Tan, a JetLag Travel Guide
• Smithereens, by Shaun Micaleff
• The Paris Option, by Robert Ludlum
• Mao's Last Dancer, by Li Cunxin
• A Short History of Nearly Everything, by Bill Bryson

[listening to: Gift from Virgo - Beyoncé ]
3:35:43 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • My Interests

While I was off work, I went to see a few movies with my kids. They were:

• The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
• Star Wars Episode III - Revenge of the Sith
• Madagascar

[listening to: Dangerously in Love - Beyoncé ]
3:25:01 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • Family • My Interests

While I was off work, I bought a bunch of new DVDs. There were (in no particular order)

• Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
• Flash Gordon
• Son of the Mask
• The Life and Death of Peter Sellers
• Mean Girls
• The Hours
• The Hunt for Red October
• The Italian Job
• Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events
• National Treasure
• Star Wars - Clone Wars, Vol. 1
• Team America - World Police
• The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou
• Bride and Prejudice
• Finding Neverland
• Hotel Rawanda
• Meet the Fockers
• Sideways

[listening to: The Closer I Get to You [Duet] - Beyoncé ]
3:20:27 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • TV