When it comes to Novell, I’ve been called an evangelist.
But... is this taking fanaticism too far?

Thanks to the talented Kathy for creating this sticker for me.

Tags: motorcycles

I don’t normally blog about politics or political topics but forgive me as I step upon the soap box...

Today, as I was driving home from work I heard on the radio that the Queensland State Government has put a hold on the Traveston Crossing Dam for a couple of years.

This is obviously excellent news for the remaining residents of the Valley, of which I class myself one.
While not completely stopped, the current economic climate along with possibly the end of they big dry in the South-east, could see it shelved permanently.

The decision to build the Traveston Crossing Dam in the first place was merely a political stunt by the previous Queensland Premier, Peter Beattie. And, through sheer stubbornness, Anna Bligh has been torch bearer of that same decision. Who voted for her anyway?

Due to poor management by the State, of the State water infrastructure, Brisbane (NOT Queensland) was running dry. To be seen to be doing something, Mr Beattie made a declaration that has destroyed the lives of a large number of people who once called the Mary Valley home. And continues to wreak havoc on the lives of the people who still live there.

Should the Dam be given the bullet, it will be interesting to see if the State Government has a legal case to answer, for the stress imposed on people due to it’s hardline stance and tactics.
If so, I hope the Government gets hung out to dry. It will serve them right.

To ignore the resolve of the common people, thinking an elected “government” is all mighty over the people who elected it, is fraught with danger for the careers of the elected... liken it to dancing with the Devil.

Here endeth the sermon.

Tags: mary valley

...How I survived 71 days lost in the Outback

Worth Reading: Yes

Summary: Ricky was driving along the Buntine Highway when he stopped to lend assistance to a car on the side of the road. He woke up half buried and covered by a tarp. Left for dead in the middle of nowhere.
This is his tale of survival as he tried to walk out of hell. No shoes. No water. No one knew where he was, including himself.
Eating, frogs, crickets, leaches, water lillies, wild rosellas and anything else he could shove down his throat. He walked for miles and managed to survive for 71 days before being found by station hands, emaciated and close to death, he had lost 60 plus kilograms.

This is an excellent true story and shows that if one keeps one’s wits together and aren’t picky about what one eats... you can beat the odds.

One of my favourites from Ray Charles, of which I have a few, is Georgia on my mind.
The film “Ray” is also an interesting chronicle of his life. Watch it if you get the chance.

Tags: music, ray charles

Since OS X update 10.5.5 I have been having a few issues with AirPort on my “Black MacBook”.

Namely, AirPort plays up when switching locations.

At worst, AirPort settings are lost for the location I switch to. At best AirPort takes several start/stops to acquire an IP address from a DNS server (no there is nothing wrong with my DNS server). The most common however is, AirPort doesn’t turn ON if it is OFF as part of the location I’m switching from.

I believe Apple have supplied an update in AirPort Extreme Update 2008-004.

However, I’ve only just applied this update so I’m not sure if it has solved my problem. I’ll know tomorrow.

Prior to finding this update (thanks Paul...again) I was tinkering around trying to figure out what was occurring. It all seemed hit-and-miss in the Network Preferences pane so I switch to the terminal. Lo and behold, I found a quick work-around.

ifconfig en1 down

followed by...

ifconfig en1 up

This immediately and without fuss, fixed my AirPort connection. Why this doesn’t do exactly what the GUI does I’m not sure, but there does seem to be some difference.. perhaps that’s part of the problem as resolved in the update?!

This may or may not work for you but give it a shot if you haven’t had time to install the above update, which requires a reboot - There goes my record uptime attempt AGAIN.

Tags: OS X, apple

Today is Remembrance Day (Poppy Day) in Australia.

Originally called “Armistice Day”, today commemorates the end of hostilities for the Great War (WWI), the “war to end all wars”. Armistice Day is observed by the Allies as a way of remembering those who died, especially soldiers with 'no known grave’.
The signing of the armistice occurred on 11 November 1918, on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.

Rolf Harris ~ Two Little Boys


We should remember them.

Tags: music

Worth Reading: Yes


Summary: (Taken from www.michaelrobotham.com)

Sami Macbeth is not a master criminal He’s not even a minor one. He’s not a jewel thief. He’s not a safe-cracker. He’s not an expert in explosives. Sami plays guitar and wants to be a rock god but keeps getting side-tracked by unforeseen circumstances.

Fifty-four hours ago Sami was released from prison. Thirty-six hours ago he slept with the woman of his dreams at the Savoy. An hour ago his train blew up. Now he’s carrying a rucksack through London’s West End and has turned himself into the most wanted terrorist in the country.

Fast, funny, hip and violent, BOMBPROOF is a non-stop adventure full of unforgettable characters and a heart-warming hero – Sami Macbeth – a man with the uncanny ability to turn a desperate situation into a hopeless one.

This is the first of Michael Robotham’s books that I’ve read. I always have trouble with the first book of a new author, perhaps it something to do with the newness of the style of writing to me. I had the same problem initially with Bombproof also, however I ended up getting hooked. It turned in to quite a page turner and I think I may have found a new author to follow. I particularly like the character of retired detective Vincent Ruiz and I notice he is the subject of another book “Lost”.

Tags: michael robotham

Today is the birthday of Joni Mitchell. She turns 65 young.

Arguably one of the greatest songwriters ever, Joni is probably best known for her work in the 60’s and 70’s.

I have a number of her albums and even listening to her today on the radio, her music is refreshing against the prose of today.

Happy birthday Joni.

Tags: music

Enya has a hauntingly beautiful voice.

She has produced a lot of music but I thought I’d put up this one as I’m also a LOTR’s fan.



If you’re wondering what she is saying, it is Quenya.

Mornie utúlie (darkness has come)
Mornie alantie (darkness has fallen)

Tags: music

Worth reading: Yes but read “Just a Geek” first.

Summary: Wil Wheaton didn’t have space in his first book “Just a Geek” --which I reviewed previous to this-- to fit all his stories in. So he wrote this little vitamin.

This supplement is written in the same easy flowing style and includes five stories that enlighten the reader a little more on who the Wil fella is.

At least one of the stories is an expanded version of some of the events Wil has written about in “Just a Geek”.

My favourite is “Ready or not, here I come.”

Thanks again to Paul for lending this one to me.

Tags: wil wheaton

Worth reading: Yes

Summary: What happens after the Starship Enterprise has hit warp speed and left you in the dust? Wil Wheaton knows, and in his book “Just a Geek” he tells you.

This is a very interesting read and gives you an insight into who the man is, what he has been though, and what he has been put through. I can thank Paul for putting me in touch with Wil’s work.

--aside--
I for one will always think of Wil as Gordie Lachance in “Stand by Me”. Why? Well, the movie is based on a Stephen King short story called “The Body” from a collection of short stories called “Different Seasons”. I’m a Stephen King fan.
I think this was the first Stephen King book-turned-movie that I had seen.

It wasn’t till after seeing “Stand by Me” that I started watch Star Trek: The Next Generation. But this wasn’t because of Wil. More a case of Star Trek...Star Wars. So close in name and close enough to watch both.
--/aside--

Being a “reader” not a “writer” I feel there are two types of writing style; The “conventional” style where there are a lot of “She said/He said” type statements, and the...I’ll call it the “conversational” style, where there are none. Just statements that are left up to the reader to determine who said what. The conversational style can work really well or it can be terrible. Wil does it REALLY well and his prose flows--hey that rhymes, COOL--just like you’re overhearing a conversation between two people.

Tags: wil wheaton

I am sitting around listening to some Jethro Tull and throught I’d have a quick look at Ibex.

The latest version of Ubuntu was released yesterday... 8.10 or Intrepid Ibex.

I downloaded the ISO and booted my PC from the live CD option to have a look. Well I was expecting... more.

Very first impression: Geez someone knocked over a coffee cup on the desktop.
I quickly realised this was a stylised Ibex, after which the product version is named.

I can’t see a lot of new stuff, actually the only thing that jumped out at me was the USB install option.


Firefox 3.03 is in there, but OpenOffice.org 3.0 didn’t make the cut. Ibex is running version 2.4. There is nothing wrong with that, but given Firefox 3.0beta made the cut for Hardy Heron (which is what I’m currently running), I would have thought OOo3.0 to have made it in. Perhaps there was insufficient time for testing or some such thing.

The Ubuntu site does say that most of the new goodies are behind the scenes and include new wireless abilities and 3G support.

The latest GNOME 2.24 is being used, but there are no new or additional themes.

An interesting feature is the “Guest Session” where another person can use your Ubuntu PC as a guest while keeping all your secrets... well, secret.

On the whole though, I’m not really tempted to upgrade my Hardy Heron install to Intrepid Ibex. I might hold off and wait to see what others are saying about it. One never knows, there may be a killer app hidden in the large intestine of Ibex that will tempt me to neuralise Heron.

Tags: Linux, ubuntu