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Felicitations

Dec 25, 2008
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I am so glad the holidays are here. I'm not sure how long I was going to last at the current pace. We are installing an enormous web site (in December? Why not!), & the voluntary overtime is great fun, but just a bit wearing. 

But it's Christmas now. I've had a long chat to brother in the next state, & Skype has let me see sister, bro in law & nieces in Germany. We did nutty things, like take the lappy outside to show our christmas lights. No. 1 son made faces most of the time, and we carried an inflatable dalek across the background. Sometimes the 21st Century is just right.

It's been a marvellous Christmas. Midnight Mass at the Cathedral. Coming out at 1.30am with the bells pealing into the night. We have stockings out for the children, breakfast in bits & pieces, then "the present session" after that. All the parents in law were here for our long lunch, which was outdoors in a lovely 34 degrees (93 Fahrenheit). We had had a touch of rain, so the garden was quite green and fresh.  

We finished up with a bit of cooking for the extended family party tomorrow. a truly mellow day. A blessed day.

I hope you've had a good Christmas too. We live in a crazy age, but there's so much good around (really), and I hope you feel it, or add to it. If you can read this, you're luckier than most people. 

I wish you well.

QotD: Happy Birthday Steven Spielberg

Dec 19, 2008
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Steven Spielberg, one of the most influential personalities in film, was born on this day in 1946. Which one of the many films he directed do you call your favorite?
What a range to choose from! And can I choose his acting career too? Who could forget the Blues Brothers final sequences in the Cook County Assessor's Office (that was him).
A special mention should go to Jaws. I was in a surf lifesaving club when that came out, & we all found the shark's behaviour laughable. It made scenes like the boat-eating one v funny.
The Back to the Future series did a good job of trying to explain time paradoxes: secret brain food in a silly movie, & de Loreans are beautiful.
I'm giving to Schindler's List. Moving, v effective filming style, excellent adaptation of the novel. If only he'd given it the right name: Schindler's Ark.

Task Manager needed here

Dec 5, 2008
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Italian artist Filippo Minelli puts big provocative images on big things. This one captures something about Israel & Palestine. You decide.

Ctrl_minelli

Christmas getting to know you quiz thing (from Maju)

Dec 2, 2008
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Empress Nasi Goreng found a post on Maju's blog called "Christmas getting to know you quiz thing." And why not?

Here's mine, go and do your own!

1. Wrapped gifts or gift bags?

Definitely trad wrapping, but the bags are convenient when you're desperate.

2. Christmas Tree--real or fake?

Real - the pine smell in the house is compulsory for us.

3. When do you put your Christmas tree up?

4. When do you take your Christmas tree down?

I grew up with all the deccies going up on Christmas Eve & coming down on Twelfth Night. But my kids like the lights, so we put them up a few weeks earlier.

5. Do you like egg nog?

Delicious.

6. Do you have a nativity scene?

My parents brought a little one made of olive wood, from Israel.

7. Favourite gift received as a child?

A Midget Farrelly styrofoam surfboard - with a fin!

8. Hardest person(s) to buy for?

9. Easiest person to buy for?

Buying presents, either it comes really easily or it's a nightmare. I can't control ideas, they just come (or don't).

10. Worst Christmas gift received?

A big expensive block of chocolate, that was past its use-by date. It had gone stale & white & powdery.

11. Mail or email Christmas cards?

Mail, for sure.

12. Favourite Christmas movie?

But they're all shocking! Can I vote for the Dr Who Christmas Specials. Jackie: I'm going to be killed by a Christmas tree! Or Kylie Minogue as a maid on the spaceship Titanic.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?

Soon.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?

Yes. The best was from a cousin to our child. A children's book, she had given it to her son before, & his name was still in it... oops.

15. Favourite food to eat at Christmas?

So many to choose from! But the winner is (fruit) mince pies. Not too much icing sugar, thanks.

16. Coloured or clear lights?

I like clear ones; the kids like coloureds. 3:1 so I lose.

17. Angel or star on tree top?

A beautiful hand-made stuffed felt angel, carrying a harp.

18. Open Christmas Eve or Christmas morning?

Definitely on the morning. The eve isn't yet Christmas!

19. Do you like fruit cake?

Oh yes, the more alcohol the better.

20. The most annoying thing about this time of year?

Equal first: contradiction of end-of-year slackness & panic to finish work projects; contradiction of religious/family joys & crass consumerism.

A Merry Christmas to you!

Haunted by the undead

Dec 2, 2008
2 comments

Saw a bit of The Howard Years on ABC1.

For those not blessed with living in the land of Oz; John Howard's conservative government ruled for over a decade here. In a time of relative prosperity (cheap imports & good mineral exports), he created a climate of fear & vindictiveness. Welfare & health were cut, the spy & police forces expanded. He created several new spy organisations. (The wikipedia article on ASIO is chilling reading.) Union-bashing. Universities stripped of funding. Wars in Afghanistan & Iraq. Asylum seekers were put in concentration camps in the desert, or on tiny islands. It was truly shameful.

And we voted him out! Last year he ran an election campaign based on trust. Can you believe it. He was trounced, even losing his own seat to a newcomer. He anointed his treasurer (whom he despised) as successor, & he refused to accept leadership nomination! It was a late but sweet revenge.

Seeing the images again, hearing the lies and the blame-shifting again, was disturbing. It's still too raw and painful. And little was new for me. But hopefully even Herald-Sun & Tele readers will accept the facts in time.

New leaders here & in the USA, even Mr Brown in England has looked better in the face of financial woes. I want some hope, not old miseries & undead politicians.

Dilbert: love it

Nov 28, 2008
5 comments

How does he do it? Dilbert is consistently brilliant. Go and have a look. But I have to share 2 favourites.

'Heuristics' is a fancy term for rule of thumb, or approximate guideline.

Rerailed

Nov 27, 2008
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Well, the strange stuff is abating. The usual mix of turmoil & end of year can't-be-bothereds has moved the excitement on, & my corner has settled down.

There's something going on between management person & other colleague, which is quite bizarre. Both are pleasant people, with no general ill-will. There is good will there. But we have all this disagreement. It feels so resolvable, I'm slightly puzzled it's got to this stage. Roll on Xmas!

Derailed

Nov 19, 2008
3 comments

At work, a strange sequence of events.

It started quite a few weeks ago, when a management person dropped in the office late in the afternoon for a chat to a colleague. Colleague was advised not to let another colleague linger in the office. Colleague replied with a few pithy Australianisms. You can guess he drift.

Now, I've been asked to write an account of the event, weeks afterwards, "just for the record". Huh? This felt a bit unusual, or at the least a cover for something else. It disturbed me, & I couldn't get my mind onto some important projects.

So I call management person, to explain I can't give a reliable written account (I wasn't tuned in to the conversation at first, it wasn't initially for me, it didn't seem much to think about, & it was ages ago). I was willing to discuss the event in an appropriate way. But management cut me off, & hung up on me! Truly amazing.

Well NOW it looks really messy. It feels like there was something behind the first request. I'm being pulled two ways over this. And I'm totally derailed from the big report due we're-not-sure-when-but-probably-tomorrow.

My supervisor has agreed to have a quiet word at a quiet time, and - I dearly hope - smooth things out. Light a candle for me.

I like this job. It's varied, & stimulating, & I meet a lot of interesting people. Best of all, I feel I'm making a difference. Yeah, corny I know, but I reckon it's true. I don't need this stuff.

Thanks for listening.

zzZZzz

Nov 11, 2008
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I'm not very with it right now. Big projects at work, stupid hours, dozing off. Keep talking amongst yourselves. I'll be back affter a snoozzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Saw great demo of podcasting using Mac garageband + Photobooth. a giggle. watch out!

QotD: Out of the Blue

Nov 7, 2008
1 comment

Tell us how you met your significant other.
Submitted by Luda
I first came into my significant other's consciousness when she was an organiser for a music festival. I was hitchiking the 880 km to the event. I started late (SO unlike me!) (joke), & had got held up in Gunning. Not much happening in Gunning late at night. I wasn't worried, but at the festival people were running around waving their hands in the air. When I turned up a day late, she was cross! But a few years later she was fine about it.

Horsewilow2

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And now it's been over 20 years together...
(Gunning's still about the same.)