Bored at home? Create your own zoo...

Its official: Windows XP boots on MacBook Pro

Ever feel...

Ever feel that there's not enough hours in the day to keep up to date with everything new?

Here's a way to keep *ahem* on top of things :-)

Purpose of being here

This morning, like many mornings, I woke up from a strange dream. Like many others, I usually forget about this dream in 10 minutes. During this period, my mind switches from the dream world to the real world...first question that pops into my head (apart from thinking I need to pee or I need to let the dog out) is usually What am I doing here? What is my purpose?

 

Is there something else I need to be doing? Is there somewhere else I needed to be? Perhaps helping out in wildlife conservation programs in africa or maybe enlisting in the military. Perhaps I should be living in a different country. I think about this most of the time even while commuting on the way to work. At work is where reality's reality sets in...I stop thinking about it. There's work to do...

 

 

Empty Road

Yesterday B0log3r, REM, and I wne to the Xbox 360 Road Trip. This event first started requiring people to pre-register and this "VIP priority list" is suppose to have first access inside the bus. Here is the disclaimer...

Registering will give you priority access inside the bus over others who have not registered, however, registration will not guarantee you access inside the bus. Access is subject to availability of the bus on the day and numbers are limited. Microsoft reserves the right to close off registrations at any time. Please note the final admission to the bus each day is at 8.45 PM. The bus will hold 40 people at a time and each session on the bus will last for 15 min. You must register at least 1 day prior to the day you wish to attend the Roadtrip.

Good if there was plenty of people however, this was not the case on the day. We got there around 2-3pm and there was hardly any people queuing up.

The bus was impressive. They converted the outside of the bus to look roundish. The left hand side bus panel had 10 or so plasma screens on it. Problem is, you can't see anything on the screen because it is facing directly at the sun. Having the event during the daytime, you would have thought they are smart enough to turn the bus so the screen faces south or away from the sun.

When we got there, there was about a dozen cars parked around the bus. Most of it probably belong to the staff of Microsoft and Noel Leemings. Yes Noel Leemings staff was there giving away some paper with special discount offers when you pre-order your console pack. The offer includes discounts to games for the whole year and quadruple FlyBuys points.

>> Here's the side of the bus...yes there is something showing on the screens. Spot the Noel Leemings guy :)

We waited for about 10 minutes as they prepare the inside of the bus. Not sure why it wasn't prepared in the first place if the even ran from 9am-9pm. Perhaps they have BSOD problems and had to reboot.

To the right of the queue are two cars with plasma screens and Xbox 360s. This is where the non-VIP people is suppose to view the new consoles while they wait for access inside the bus. Of course as you can see, this doesn't matter. You can fit everyone waiting outside inside the bus. They said you can fit up to 40 people inside the bus. Well maybe when seated in seats. There are about 20 displays inside. So theoretically, you can have 40 players at any one time plus spectators.

Problem is (see above), there is hardly enough room to fit two people per display to fit anyone older than 11 yrs old and the games they feature above are all R16! What the?! Each display uses an LCD screen which was impressive.

The consoles are cased inside a clear plastic display with no venting so behind each display is an exhaust fan (above) to vent all the hot air out of the xbox units. Also inside the bus is 19 degrees C as indicated in the A/C controls. It was very cold. The three of us had to leave at least twice to warm ourselves up. We concluded that the A/C was not for the comfort of the visitors but to prevent the xbox 360 from overheating - one of the faults discovered so far by xbox 360 users overseas.

At the back of the bus there is in very impressive screen showing some video. The video was very pixelated :)

The reflection on the screen features a silhouette of ... how did they put it... the "sizzling Joanna Dark". Trust me...nothing sizzling there...We were all frozen. In fact, This guy chatting to her is one of the staff. Everyone was more focussed on playing the games. There was one time I saw "Dark" sitting in front of the bus reading Brass magazine.

What games did we play? Well there was Perfect Dark Zero which was quite good - controls take a bit of getting use to. There was also Quake 4 (ok), DOA 4 (ok - ernie would enjoy), Project Gotham 3 (nothing new), NFS MW, Kameo, Call of Duty 2, Fight Night, Some skateboard game, and a soccer game. The bus would have been a disappointment to kids as there are only 4 games for them to see.

Not everything is a disappointment though. They were giving away lanyards, caps (which looked gay), rubber bands, and tennis bands.

Anything free can brighten up your day. :)))

We stayed for a couple of hours. Got bored and my back was aching. The displays were not ergonomic. We also got real cold.

Overall, it was an ok but sub-standard experience. Wich they would give away more things like FREE XBOX 360s!!!!

I spoke to one of the staff and The turn out on friday wasn't so big. I was told they attracted about 200 people on friday at the domain. Well what do you expect I guess...parents are working and children are in school. When they get there, they'll find that most of the bus is R16 anyway.

I'll leave the rest of the comments to B0log3r if he's got any.

Bushisms - More than words

It can only happen to George W! To make a fool of yourself all the time, you must have a very thick skin. There was that falling after choking on a pretzel. Then there was the Segway invident. Now, his latest blooper involved a bike, waving, and a police officer.

iPods going cheap

Just to let you know, I've been offered by a mate of mine the chance to buy 100 South African designed Ipods for $25 each (all above board) and wondered if any of you would be interested in one.

They're obviously a bit late for a Xmas present, but for the price you may as well get one.
They are a slightly different version of the Nano but still quite cool.

For all you techno geeks, the attached picture is the exact model on offer.

Let me know if you are interested so I can get organised.

Please don't take away my favourite soda

Now they are saying some fizzy drinks may cause cancer - and Fanta is one of them. They always do this. The price you pay for taking processed food I guess. But process food is also part of the advancement of society and technology. Part of moving towards the future.

 

People will eat more organic and natural food when they come down in price.

No reason to live?

Yesterday a man was accidentally trapped in a shredding machine and he ended up losing 3 or 4 limbs.

 

If I was this man and knew I'll lose my limbs, I wouldnt have cried for help and just allowed myself to bleed to death. Surely I'll know if my arms or legs are crushed beyond recognition.

 

With the current technology, there is no way of replacing these limbs with functional robotic alternatives. I wouldn't mind being Borg.

 

If they get amputated, I'll be a burden to all those around me and would rather die that be taxing.

 

These thoughts are my own and for myself and not for the man in the above article.

 

the walls are closing in... and what is that flushing sound

Been working on a project for the past few days, the nature of which is rather confidential, and could actually be all for nothing if a certain proposal isn't ratified...

So me and one of the other senior systems analyst have locked ourselves away from the day-to-day slog of the coal face, and basically attempt to emulate the lifestyle lived by hermits in that we've closeted ourselves away in the project room…



Amazing how much work you can achieve when there's no shoulder tapping, no phones ringing, no general conversations occurring to capture your attention for the briefest of moments (which we all know, add up to a hell of a lot of time at the end of the day when you take in to account not only the amount of time lost in paying attention to the conversation, and then the subsequent attempt at achieving the same level of concentration that you had previously devoted to the subject at hand prior to being disturbed/derailed)…

Just the furious tippity-tappity of touch-typing fingers rolling out SQL statements, contacting business users to gain a better understanding of what they're proposing be done to the system (conversations which go along the lines of "you want to do WHAT with the system? Why the h3ll do you want it to do that for?"), the scritchy-scratch noise of pen(cil) etching out notes/diagrams on A3 pieces of paper that is mapping out the ridiculous timeline that you are constrained to - all this interspersed with the exclamations of elation and/or sounds of utter anguish…

Oh, and the sounds of toilet(s) flushing… the project room that I'm cosseted away in, is beside the toilets - let me explain further, the toilets are only accessible from the foyer (ie. There's no door to access the toilets from inside our area)… it's amazing how many times the toilets are used in an hour (at it's busiest, I've counted 27 flushes in an hour - and there's only 50 people that work on this floor!)… true, there could be some that use the toilet without flushing, but I'd rather not have to count those ones - yes, I can also hear the sound of the toilet door closing and being locked/latched, as well as the clink of the toilet seat as the user raises/lowers it… and yes, much like Ally McBeal, our toilets are unisex… *sigh*

Spooked

Had my birthday recently and my loving wife conspired with my closest friends and my family to plan a surprise party. It was a nice surprise with plenty of scrumptious food and lots of laugh. The most fun we've had in a long time.

 

That night some of us went to a newish attraction up here in Auckland called Spookers. They have three attractions but we only went to two of them. The Spookers Haunted House and the Freaky Forest.

 

The Story goes... In 1998 the Government purchased all land surrounding a top secret research facility known as 'Compound K'. Government scientists were conducting secret experiments to find a cure for any possible nuclear contamination.

One evening, deep inside the compound, something went drastically wrong ... read the rest of the story here.

I thought the house was better than the forest. Althought the forest's Jason dude was quite believable. In the house, the best parts were: the psycho pipe guy, the guy in the cage who is obsessed with getting the keys, and the nurse with the eardrum-piercing scream. Freddy was good too although he is more funny than scary.

Over all it was an excellent spookers night.

Supermarket Humour

Maybe it's just me but I thought this was funny

I went to buy some taro a few days ago at Countdown.

This chick at the counter was processing my groceries until she got to the taro.

She asked "Is this Swede?"

I said "No. It is Taro."

She turns around to the supervisor and said "I do not know the code for Taro."

The supervisor yelled out and asked "Is it pink or white Taro?"

The cashier said "It's brown?!"

Hepi Balentayns Dey!

Ernie's Dream PC

I found Ernie's Dream PC. The release date (Japan Only) is 24th February.

http://tinyurl.com/cewtw

To boldly go where no one has gone before?

A Star Trek fan who spent thousands of dollars on converting his home in Britain into a replica of the Starship Enterprise has declared himself bankrupt.

Sci-fi enthusiast Tony Alleyne spent nine years transforming his flat into the bridge of Captain Kirk and crew's spaceship.

 

This is quite sad. I mean you spend your 9 yrs using all your money and what your passion ultimately brought you down in flames.

 

You can view the flat here.

 

The before and after photos are impressive. I don't think the actual set at are as detailed as Tony's flat.

It's not funny anymore

It all started with a Danish paper publishing what was suppose to be humour (theirs) depicting the Prophet Mohammad (I hope I spelt it correctly) as a suicide bomber. There were apparently several cartoons published.

 

This caused protests from the muslim community from different parts of the world which include Beirut, Syria, etc...A few days ago, 2 NZ papers (Dominion Post and The Press) and 2 TV channels (TV One and TV3) published/shown the cartoons as part of a news story. This caused protests on Sunday on Queen Street. Hundreds of local Muslims marched down Queen Street to protest against it's publication in NZ.

 

Personally I do not think there is anything wrong with this if the cartoons were shown as part of a news story telling people what happened overseas. Kinda like this..."This is what is happening overseas and it is caused by this cartoon... ". Now what is wrong with that? The media here in NZ did not have any malicious intent of blasphemy or insulting the local Muslim community. I think the local community over-reacted by claiming so.

 

The publishing of the cartoon was no different to the publishing of the Virgin Mary in a Condom a while back. Now that caused some protests from the local Catholic community but they did not protest against the media but against the artist who created it. Why can't the local Muslim community see it the same way? I do not know...

 

The arguments are that the media have the right to free speech - which is what it is all about in NZ. Free speech does not mean you can insult or defame people - this is true and it is certainly not the case here.

 

Overseas, the Muslim community have burnt Danish flags and even their embassies - to be honest, in doing so they are not helping themselves. They claim that Islam is peaceful - sure. Most religions claim they are peaceful. But if they are to go around protesting with placards with words "beheading..." or go on and burning other people's properties, that is hardly peaceful at all. At least the protest here in NZ is not voilent. That seems to be in keeping with the said peaceful Islam teachings.

 

Here is the latest (today's news) on the cartoon issue in NZ. Muslim countries are now threatening to cancel trade with NZ just because the media is doing their job. Very childish and misled I think they are.

 

 

Tamahori arrested for prostitution

New Zealand director Lee Tamahori has been arrested for prostitution.

The 55-year-old was picked up during a police prostitution sting on Hollywood's Santa Monica Boulevard on January 8.

Tamahori was arraigned in a Los Angeles court today and officially charged with soliciting.

Los Angeles Police Department spokesman Officer Jason Lee says the director was dressed as a woman, and approached an undercover policeman. He says he bailed himself two hours after his arrest and booking.

Lee Tamahori directed the New Zealand box office hit Once Were Warriors, and more recently the James Bond movie Die Another Day starring Pierce Brosnan and Halle Berry.

- NEWSTALK ZB
 

 

You can never tell.....

 

The most beautiful woman in the world

Aishwarya Rai was voted the most beautiful woman in the world.

Do you agree?

INDIAN CURRY RHAPSODY

Vital research has just found the little known Indian version of Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody!!

Naan, just killed a man

Poppadom against his head

Had lime pickle now he's dead.

Naan, dinner's just begun

But now I'm gonna throw it all away.

Naan, ooh, ooh Didn't mean to make you cry

If I'm not back from the loo by this time tomorrow

Curry on, curry on

Cause nothing really madras.

Too late, my dinner's gone

Sends shivers down my spine

Bottom aching all the time

Goodbye onion bhaji, I've got to go

Gotta leave you all behind and use the loo.

Naan, ooh, ooh

This dopiaza is so mild

I sometimes wish we'd never come here at all.

(guitar solo)

I see a little chicken tikka on the side

Rogan Josh, rogan josh, pass the chutney made of mango

Vindaloo does nicely very very

spicy

Meat!

 

Byriani (Byriani)

Byriani (Byriani)

Byriani and a naan

(A vindaloo loo loo loo)

I've eaten balti, somebody help me

He's eaten balti, get him to the lavatory

Stand you well back

'Case the loo is quarantined

here it comes

There it goes

Technicolor yawn

I chunder

No!

It's coming up again (There he goes)

I chunder, it's coming back again (There he goes)

Coming back again (up again)

here it comes again.

(No, no, no, no, no, no, NO)

On my knees, I'm on my knees

On his knees, oh there he goes

This vindaloo

Is about to wreck my guts

Poor meeee... poor meeee.... Poor MEEEEE!

(Guitar solo)

So you think you can chunder and then feel alright?

So you try to eat curry and

drink beer all night?

Oh maybe, but now you'll puke like a baby

Just had to come out

It just had to come right out in here.

(Guitar solo)

(slow bit)

korma or dopiaza

bhaji, naan or saag

Nothing makes a difference

Nothing makes a difference

To meeee....

 

Any way the wind blows.............shshshsh)

 

 

Cunningness Misplaced (Partie Deux)

Last week I posted Cunningness Misplaced" which is in a nutshell is about the police catchign red light runners on Nelson St just off the N'West M'Way. Well today they are at it again. This time there was no cop on the corner. Perhaps it didn't work quite well the last time so this time they've decided to hide. They posted stops about 100 metres in (which is the exact legal requirement - i.e. cops have to be visible for 100 metres if they were to set a trap. This rule may be old and obsolete since they seem to change the rules without really telling people). Good thing traffic is not as bad today.

 

For them to setup another trap like this which is quite dangerous and a nuisance on peak hour traffic, the revenue gathering must have gone really well. They can't wait to gather more revenue. I'm not sure how the financial year works for the Police but perhaps it ends in March/April and they are trying to catch up?

Panda Porn

A zoo in Thailand is planning to make Panda Porn thinking it would help their two pandas mate successfully - assuming that the Pandas are smart enough to understand videos. Next thing you'll hear, they are making Panda Viagara.

At the doctor's office

Posted on behalf of Godzilla...


A gorgeous young redhead goes into the doctor's office and said that her body hurt wherever she touched it.

"Impossible!" says the doctor. "Show me."

The redhead took her finger, pushed on her left breast and screamed, then she pushed her elbow and screamed in even more. She pushed her knee and screamed; likewise she pushed her ankle and screamed. Everywhere she touched made her scream.

The doctor said, "You're not really a redhead, are you?

"Well, no" she said, "I'm actually a blonde."

"I thought so," the doctor said. "Your finger is broken"

Do you have big testicles...dumbass?

This is an interesting study of testicle size in relation brain size.

Chuck Norris

Chuck Norris does not hunt because the word hunting infers the probability of failure. Chuck Norris goes killing.

To prove it isn't that big of a deal to beat cancer. Chuck Norris smoked 15 cartons of cigarettes a day for 2 years and acquired 7 different kinds of cancer only to rid them from his body by flexing for 30 minutes. Beat that, Lance Armstrong.

Chuck Norris counted to infinity - twice.

When the Boogeyman goes to sleep every night he checks his closet for Chuck Norris.

Chuck Norris ordered a Big Mac at Burger King, and got one.

When Chuck Norris sends in his taxes, he sends blank forms and includes only a picture of himself, crouched and ready to attack. Chuck Norris has not had to pay taxes ever.

Chuck Norris can touch MC Hammer.

Chuck Norris sleeps with a night light. Not because Chuck Norris is afraid of the dark, but the dark is afraid of Chuck Norris.

A Handicap parking sign does not signify that this spot is for handicapped people. It is actually in fact a warning, that the spot belongs to Chuck Norris and that you will be handicapped if you park there.

Someone once tried to tell Chuck Norris that roundhouse kicks aren't the best way to kick someone. This has been recorded by historians as the worst mistake anyone has ever made.

Chuck Norris lost his virginity before his dad did.

Chuck Norris died ten years ago, but the Grim Reaper can't get up the courage to tell him.

At birth, Chuck Norris came out feet first so he could roundhouse kick the doctor in the face. Nobody delivers Chuck Norris but Chuck Norris.

John Campbell Wannabe

I was watching the first segment of Breakfast on TV one this morning and they were interviewing Don Brash. Willie Jackson was the person interviewing. WIllie first introduced Don and said the interview is about National Party's view on the country moving forward as one.

 

Dr Brash confirmed this as he did in the last election. The party's view is against race-based policy's and to be honest it is a bit unfair that there are race-specific benefits. e.g. there are so and so number of seats available for Maori's who want to get into Med School. Since this set of seats is specifically for Maori, the selection procedures or quality is most likely different (either harder or easier to get in). If they want to argue that the Maori seats are just as hard to get into as the normal, then why have them separate? After all, a doctor is a doctor.

 

This is just one of the examples. Some people think National is racist or anti-Maori and this is what Willie Jackson is trying to establish. However, my complaint is that Willie was very biased in his questioning. He ask Don Brash this several times and after Brash answered the question, Willie will say "Then why were you willing to form a coalition with the Maori Party last september?" or "isn't it true you wanted to form a coallition with the Maori party?"

 

Doesn't Willie understand the answer. National's policy is not against the Maori people but it is pro New Zealand as a whole - NZ moving forward as one. If National was/is willing to form a coalition with the Maori party then that simply proves National is willing to work with anyone regardless of race.

 

 

How do you explain my headaches then?

Studies have shown there is no link between brain cancer and mobile phones. So I guess we are all safe!! Yay!

 

 

Second leg of tripod gone

Just found out today that the second of the gossip trio is leaving the company to work from home. Goody! In 4 weeks there will only be one gossip king whom I hope will not be able to continue talking behind people's backs.

For several times he has tried to engage me in degrading gossip but I refused to take the bait. Now he is the only one left behind. My only hope is that he will not be able to form a new tripod of gossipers.

"Leg 2" recommended another person to take her place and it just so happens that I know this person. He is a good guy however, he does have some common traits with gossip king. He is anti-microsoft and anti-bush. I'm not saying I'm pro-bush or pro-microsoft...I'm just saying there are some people who tend to dismiss certains just because of some general belief. e.g. some people have an expressed hatred against xbox since it is a microsoft product. I on the other hand do not really care who made it as long as it works great.

We'll see if this guys accepts the job. He is a freelancer at the mo and he seems to enjoy it.

On a different note, what is it with "Star Wrecks" huh? To boldly go where no one  has dumped rubbish before...

 

 

Bad dog

Today I Binky dug up cat poo from one of my seedling trays in the back yard and started playing with it. She carried it around in her mouth like a toy and ran around the yard. It must have been some sweet smelling shit for her to do that. Not surprising though - I think any animal can do that. When Binky was younger, I fed some cashew nuts and her digestive system was probably a bit undeveloped as most of it came out. The following morning, I saw her stool had bite marks on it. It look like some cat went through it. Anyway, I decided to give Binky a bath. Good timing anyway. It is her 3 month bday tomorrow. Here are her new photos. She's bigger now and her ears are more erect - again...hopefully it will be fully erect soon.


Ok this is one of her trademark poses...Blue Steel


And this one if the formal pose. Kinda like when she sits behind her desk.

Here is something that came out of "When pets go wild!"

No photoshop there. Took me a dozen tries to get this shot.

I'll tell you another Bad dog story. This Maori performer Richard Mitai-Ngatai headbutted a tourist just because the tourist was smirking while Richard was performing the wero (maori welcome). Being a tourism performer, this bad dog should be more sensitive to tourists' reactions. Not everyone know how to react in this situations and all he needed to do is advice this tourist how to behave. Obviously, like other domesticated pets, Richard still got a bit of the wild in him.

Personally, the Maori welcome when you enter the marae is actually quite scary. It doesn't look like a welcome at all. Is this due to the nature of being warriors or does it show some uncivilised trait? The haka for example shows some aggressive tendencies but it does look like a friendly challenge. The latest haka is a different story. It is too aggressive - any throat slitting gesture is normally seen as aggressive and worse if seen in a situation where the match is suppose to be friendly.

Bitch Barbie Going

A few months ago, one of the gossiping/back stabbing queens herer at
work took over another guy's job. At the time, I thought she wouldn't
last long and I doubted her ability to perform since one, she doesn't
have enough experience. Second, she doesn't really know the magazine
and technology. Third, I just don't like her as she is one of those
who gossip and call people names, etc. Including myself. I've written
about her quite a few times since the beginning of the blog.

Sadly she was not fired but since she hasn't been meeting her targets,
she quit before it got to that. It's only been 5 months since she took
over the job.

She came to talk to us yesterday and today and apparently she just
bought a house two days ago and she will now be working from home. I
guess lucky for some and in my personal opinion, she does not deserve
this luck.

Biatch!

Cunningness Misplaced

On my way to work, there I was at the traffic light of the Nelson
Street Exit of the N/W M'Way. There was this fella standing by the
traffic light post. He was wearing a uniform which I've dismissed as a
cop uniform since I couldn't see any cop cars parked around there. I
said to myself...that is weird. Why would someone like that (possibly
a fireman or security guard) be standing there?

He wasn't doing anything to the pole. In fact he was facing the other
way with his back towards me. However, I could see his hands doing
listing something and touching his radio once in a while. I ignored
him for the time being...

The light went green and as I went around the bend, there they are the
about 200 metres in. A cop car blocked the left most lane complete
with orange cones. Cops were standing in front of the car. Looking
right, there are a couple of cop bikes and one just pulled over a grey
car from one of the centre lanes...I mean CENTRE lanes! I suspect the
car ran a red or something...

This rush hour people! Why would they disrupt traffic like that.
Nelson street is one of the busiest streets in town especially during
rush hour! Then there is this business of pulling over cars from the
centre lane and there are at least half a dozen cars disrupted on the
right lanes.

I must say it is a cunning techinique. Without the car, the cop on the
corner didn't look suspicious. No one would have thought he was part
of a revenue-gathering team. However, I am appalled by the timing. Why
can't they do this later in the day!? More importantly, why can't they
use this techinique and use their cunningness with real police work
like catching crims?

First day back at work

There is probably one day worse than Mondays and it is the first Monday back to work after the Christmas holiday. You are still in holiday mode - more like lazy mode and you are not quite feeling well due to all the over-indulgence during the holiday period.

But here I am. It is now the afternoon. I guess the morning went by ok. Went through my 500-600 emails. Now I'm down to 20...oh wait...25 - more came in from sadistic bosses. I'm still suffering from back pain though. I think I will definitely do that chair massage on thursday and hope it will fix my back.

I didn't do much over the xmas/new year holidays. Mostly just chillin' around and went to family gatherings.

Some of my colleagues went overseas including places like Borneo and Vanuatu. One went to their family camping grounds in Coromandel.

One think I did though, got a dog just before the xmas holiday and her name is Binky (short for Bianca):

This is her on the couch. Look at that smug look... She was born 19th Oct, 2005 which makes her around 12 weeks now.

Here she is again at around 9 weeks. She loves to play with this small teddy I brought home from work. Don't ask why I have a teddy at work. Actually it is not really mine :).

Don't let this look fool you. She may look innocent but she is up to something.

I probably shouldnt let her do it but she prefers sleeping on the couch on a pillow. Actually she's got her own pillow complete with her own fluffy blankie but she likes the couch.

One of the few times she's actually slept on her own bed.

This is her first Chrismas and Christmas Present.

She seems to have enjoyed opening the present and playing in her new blanket. Didn't last long though :) She lost interest in the blanket after a day.

She's grown a lot bigger in 4-5 weeks. She has probably doubled in size.

Narnia

i liked the lion. if you like the potter movies so far, this film might be a good companion to that series. and it's good to see some kiwi magic again in the silverscreen (next up for me is that kong guy). i just wish they extended the movie a bit more. i'm not familiar with the books, but to me, the film felt like a bit hanging in some parts. out of 5 stars, i'd give it a 3.

Happy New Year to Everyone1

hapi nu yihr!!

greetings!

to everyone in this enclave, have a wonderful christmas season!

Christmas Lunch

Today was our last day at work for this year. Most people at work didn't really work. Most fooled around, chatting, etc...every body was in holiday mood. Personally I am in holiday mood too but I had lots of work to do to make sure I've taken care of my "routine". The office will be close and I will not be able to come in.

Today was the day when most department heads/managers take their staff out to lunch or as some departments did, they had drinks in the office instead. Champagne bottles were popping everywhere around me.

Sadly, our department is the only one who do not practice this kind of festive season activity. Our manager does not believe in Christmas. I do not believe he is a Christian. Neither am I and most people in the office but everyone else celebrates Christmas or at least the past year.

The story was different last week though. Surprising, the manager told us all that he wants to take us all out to lunch. His exact words were he wants to "shout us to lunch" and that we should pick a day. He left it to our art director to pick a day and that she should pick the day most suitable based on our production schedule. I told her to pick thursday the 23rd as it is not only the last day of work but it is also a time when we would have finished all the work we need to do.

So she picked the day and I believe she told the manager. I believe the manager also invited a couple of people from outside our department. These two are the ones that hang out with him and the art director everyday. Somehow they feel like an outcast from their own department...or maybe they think they are too good for their department....who knows.

Anyway, so it was settled until today...noon came and I was hungry so I asked the art director about lunch and she said the manager haven't said anythign the whole morning and she thinks it is off. 12.30 came and I'm really hungry so I decided to buy my own lunch in the cafeteria. I was one of three who was having lunch there. Everyone else in the company is out with their department having lunch. A few minutes later, my manager went to lunch leaving me and my other male colleague in the building. He of course didnt have lunch as he was expecting a free lunch from the manager. The art director left at noon and decided not to return to work.

After lunch I carried on with the remaining of my work. My manager came back shortly after without saying anything.

Sad. I told someone this story and she said...your manager doesn't believe in rewarding you employees for all the hard work does he? I thought to myself...that is a spot on comment ....

Bah humbug to you too mr manager!

Have a Merry Christmas to everyone.

Drama king

My good friend "Idiot 1" asked me today... "Are you going anywhere for your holiday?"

Of course idiot 1 is the one that approves my holiday/leave applications - I said "no, not really." He asked "why not?" I said "Well, I do not want to go on holiday during the peak season. I wanted to go on holiday during the middle of the year or outside the christmas holiday period. but I am not allowed...so I may never go on holiday this year." Hearing this he acted as if he is the victim...he tried to relate to me saying how he also wanted to go on holidays in the middle of the year but the company does not allow it....what a load of shit! He has the power to approve my leave and his own leave. He is high enough he the food chain to go on leave when he can.

The truth is, he thinks we cannot go on holiday because we follow a strict production schedule. He is wrong.

Firstly, I do follow this production schedule but I can schedule to have a gap in each month enough for me to go on a 2 week holiday. It is him who does not want me (us) to go on holiday. Second, he stops himself from going on holiday and since he doesn't go on holiday, we are not allowed too. Third, every other people in the company can go on holiday at any time during the year so why not h9im and why not us?

The answer is...he is a control freak and he is a "Drama King". Fucking bastard..

Work Christmas Function

Wheeeee :-)

Had a brilliant xmas function yesterday :-)

Left from work in a party bus overflowing with champagne :-) One of the managers must've blackmailed one of the long-haul flight attendants to service the bus in the new air new zealand air crew uniform :-)

So she got in to the act and did the usual announcements etc... So we were on Flying Low Airlines, flight number B-O-O-Z-E :-) we were then given those Santa hats with the flashing stars on them, the left side of the bus (my side) were given red hats, and the right side were given gold hats.

First stop was at Toby's Jug for lunch. Prior to getting off the bus, we had a game called "I did it Thai way" (cast your mind back to Prescilla - Queen of the Dessert), wherein 2 female volunteers (one from each team) had to pop a ping-pong ball in to their mouth and pop it to another team member who stood a couple of rows away with a bucket in hand... Each ping-pong ball had a letter with a numerical value (think scrabble) - so in the second part of this activity, we had to put together the word with the highest value from the balls that were available :-) Gold team cheated by creating several words, but linked scrabble-like, whereas we came up with 'EXQUISITELY' - winning that contest :-)

Then back on to the bus for more champers, next stop Villa Maria vineyards, for a wine-tasting session^_^ before getting off the bus, we had to write a work-secret down on a piece of paper, for a game that was to be played after the piss-up, errr wine-tasting session... the chardonnay was yum, the sauvignon blanc was alright, the riesling was mmmm, never been a big fan of merlot so didn't rate that too highly... The organisers had put out too many sets of wines, and since I don't like things going to waste, I polished those ones off as well :-)

Shambling on to the bus, we were on to our next destination - woolworths in greenlane to pick up more beers, as those were running low... Enroute, we played the game with the secrets that we'd written prior to getting off the bus at the vineyard. Everyone had to put up their hands, and whenever their secret was read out, or a secret that applied to them, they had to put their hands down... Secrets such as "I was a pole dancer thru university" and "I'm secretly in love with my project manager" came out :-) bloody brilliant really :-)

Got to the supermarket in greenlane, and I just had to get some cheeseburgers for some reason :-) mmmmm cheeseburgers :-) one of the project managers had this drunkenly brilliant idea that it would be nice to have a real christmas tree on the party bus, so he bought one :-) the bus driver wouldn't let it on to the bus tho, so it went in to the carriage :-)

Next stop, movenpik in mission bay... Bloody hell that ice cream was melting fast, and in the state of sobriety that I was in (or lack thereof), I couldn't help but drip some on my shirt... Luckily enough, the managers broke out the waterguns and squirted everyone :-) the air hostess got a bit wet as well, and as I was getting on to the bus I couldn't help my make the super-astute comment of "you're kinda wet there" - to which she promptly replied "what a brilliant observation kit!" ^_^

Then off it was to town, where we spent a few more hours at the loaded hog drinking :-) I mistakenly told thea that I was at the Dog's Bollix instead of the hog, so I don't think she was all that impressed :-)

I'd have to say, that was the best work xmas functions, that I've been to :-) can't wait to see what they'll come up with next year :-)

Do-re-mi-fa-so-la-ti-do!!!!

Went to the PriceWaterhouseCoopers - Dame Malvina Major Emerging Artists - End-of-year concert (pause... deep breath)last nite at St. Matthews-in-the-City

4 performers did there thing, to varying degrees of success IMHO... Since I'm in no way an expert on opera and the sounds/singers therein, I'll just make comments on who/what I found interesting :-)

Paloma Bruce (who funnily turned out to be a girl that Thea had gone to high school with) - just freaked me out with a prolonged note/sound that I didn't think a human was possible of generating... It was similar to the sound that you hear when you turn a TV on... But higher in pitch and volume... Shook me up something wicked to the point where it made the hairs on my arms stand on end... All this sound coming from a mere slip of a girl, was rather awe-inspiring...

Sarah Wood - apart from her amazing voice, she had an impressive *ahem* set of lungs with which to captivate the audience ^_^ and the dress that she wor... Errrr, barely wore... Ummmm let's put it this way, she was in no way under-endowned :-) I'm not sure how her b00bs didn't pop out of her strapless gown, what with all the breathing/movement going on :-)

The other two performers Rebecca Crabtree and Malcolm Ede also did very well, but in my uninformed opinion, I think that Malcolm didn't choose songs which showed his skill at the lower registers so...

The amount of effort that goes in to opera, always astounds me, and seeing it from that close, you gain more appreciation from seeing the level of facial expression and physical grace that emanates from them...

At the end of the evening (which lasted for nearly 2 hours) - they got the audience to sing 2 carols of their choice. The first was "Away in a manger" followed by "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing". Nibbles and drinks ensued :-) stuck around for a while, then went and had chawarmas for dinner at the middle-eastern café on wellesley st.

All in all, not a bad nite at all :-)

A Matrix within a matrix?

Sadly, some people still do not understand, or refuse to, that we are all in the Matrix. Scientists have now claimed that they have cracked the 'computer code' that may be responsible for deciphering visual images.

Makes you wonder if Xbox was ever tested by Microsoft

Microsoft sued over alleged Xbox 360 glitch

Bloody oil slick

Had an accident today. I was riding to work and behind my building there is this bend where someone (presumably a boat owner pulling a boat) left a line of some kind of oil slick. It didnt look like an oil slick. It was drizzling that morning so it looked like some wet line.

My turn line just turned out to be exactly where this line is and before I knew it, my tyres lost grip. I felt it. With a second, I was sideways and hit the ground.

I heard the bike grind against the road. That horrible grinding sound. The damage could have been worse though.

Two guys from the tackle shop in that corner came out and asked if I was ok. They said I was the second bike that slid that morning. Later today, somebody spreaqd some sand or kitty litter on the road to absorb the oil.

I phoned the police and apparently several people reported this oil slick as well. I said I wanted to file a report/complaint but then the lady on the phone asked me to go to the station to file this report. This brought back memories of previous reports I made. How useless they are. I didn't think it was worth the time to go as they won't do anything anyway. Why? Because nobody died. Only when someone is dead will the police come out and investigate. Even then they probably won't even do a good job. And people wonder why so many hate the cops.

Jessica is bruised. Scratches on her left side. I'm bruised on my left elbox and left knee. The bruised knee didn't come out until the following they. I presume it was knocked by the tank. My elbox hit the road.

Well well!!!

Last wednesday nite was only the second time that I'd given blood this year, I usually manage to get 3 donations in, and occasionally a 4th one in just before christmas... Reason last nite was only the 2nd time was because the last time I got a call asking me to come in as someone needed some of my blood, my iron count was a bit below the level that they require you to have, or they won't take your blood...

Reason for that would have been because, I had been working pretty hard and as such hadn't been eating properly hence why my lower than usual blood iron levels...

So yeah, after easily meeting the iron level requirement, I happily gave blood. On average, it takes me about 5.5-6 minutes to give 470mls of blood. I'd have to say that yesterdady, it only took me 5m02s, probably due to me being rather eager ^_^ wonder how much faster I could give blood?

So after giving, and waiting a couple of minutes as per the nurses instructions, I hopped off, grabbed a drink and some bickies (mmmm gingernut biscuits!) and went on my merry way to get some dinner :-)

IMHO, the best place to get a kebab is from Betsia Kebabs on symonds st (across from where ray used to live) so I got a lamb kebab on rice, while thea had a combination on rice...

But to get to the point of this rather lengthy and meandering write-up, guess what I came across ^_^

yes gents, a pill store to get all your herbal *ahem* remedies, stocking all the fave brand party pills and such :-) I didn't look too closely, but I'm sure they had bongs in there as well :-)

On another note, has anyone tried those hot coffee in a can thingies
My workmate brought it in the other day, and I must say that it's not too shabby at all :-) and here I was thinking that I'd have to wait till I got to japan to try something like that ^_^

Prima Donna

Several months ago we all took photos for our new security ID access cards. We were all told then that the same photos will be posted on our intranet site. The execs suggested this becuase we have hundreds of people in the office and without the photos, there is no face to the names unless you have dealt with them personally. Also this can help when you are looking for someone who works in a different department.

Two weeks ago, I was instructed to upload/update the new photos up into the intranet. So I started putting them on. Surprise, surprise...conspirer_1 complained to me immediately and "demanded" for his one to be taken down. I of course tried to but somehow due to some
unexplained event, my comptuer decided to crash and it took 30 minutes for me to get it back up again. This made conspirer_1 very angry. He was red! Almost funny...but I know the type of fuss he can create so I tried my best to take it down fast. He made such a huge deal of this -
he tattled to conspirer_2 and conspirer_3!. All three conspirer somehow have problems with having their photos taken. I don't usually blame people if they are shy but these three are not. They are more like Prima Donnas thinking they are better than everyone else and demand a whole lot of things. Conspirer_3 emailed me straight away and kindly asked me (surprisingly kind and calm) to take her photo down.
Which I did of course and I decided to ask conspirer_2 is she wants her one to be taken down as well. She said yes of course.

I told them that it was an executive order from HR and COO/Administration but I do not think they believe me. In fact, I'm willing to bet they think I'm a liar and was doing this just for fun.

Anyway, I went to HR and told them what happened and HR told me I did the right thing (to take it down temporarily). They were of course surprised because the three conspirers complained that this is a breach of privacy. I contacted the privacy commissioner (or whatever
his title is) and he said it shouldn't be a problem if the owners of the information were told before hand what the info is gonna be used for. In this case they all were. They simply deny it and the keyphrase here is Prima Donna...Apparently two of them complained to HR and the
head also threatened to complain to HR. I told the COO later and he could not believe the three conspirers went on such great lengths complaining about it...

It's been quiet since I took them down but I was so pissed off because they don't seem to believe me that it was an executive order, second they think I was doing it just to poke fun at them, and lastly these three think they are all that and think they are better than everyone
else! Even the top 2 highest ranking people have their photos up there!

The big question is, why don't they like having their photos there?

conspirer_1 has always been like that. He claims that the company may use his photo to submit to other companies like they do for awards and stuff. He doesn't like that. There is this annual awards and everytime he submits his application, he'll use his high school photo (which of
course was decades old). The awards council will send it back and ask for a more up to date photo and he will simply send back the same photo. This can go for several trips and in the end the council will simply give in. A bit childish if you ask me. To him it is more about safety. He always claims he's got a stalker (there is really no proof except his word which at this time is not 100% believable). Apparently there was this stalker who was a mental hospital patient. He also
complains about this other guy named Russell Brown. Russell use to work in the same radio station as him. conspirer_1 hates Russell because he thinks he is up himself and promoting hiimself all the time in the media as the "Internet Expert" which of course conspirer_1
thinks the title belongs to him. So I think you can see why he is a Prima Donna. He doesn't wear his id at work at all which is a breach of the security policy.

conspirer_2 had a different story. Of course I cannot confirm her story. She claims when she was born with a deformed upper lip or something like that. So for a while doctors were trying to fix it and everytime will take photos of it to monitor the healing. I think this would have been done when she was really young (most probably before she started talking) and everyone knows, it is not easy (in fact almost impossible) to remember anything before the time you started talking. Heck I don't even remember much before high school.
Anyway...there is nothign wrong with her now. She is just a plain Prima Donna... who thinks everyone should listen to alternative rock. She also likes gossipping about people she gossips with. She also doesn't wear her id at work which is a breach if the security policy.

conspirer_3 is the youngest of all. She doesn't like showing her photo. Her one is a bit of a weird situation. I do not remember her being like this when she first started working here. Yet now, she talks like conspirer_2. Her partner is a cop. She appeared once of twice in shortland street as an extra I think..I seem to recall that. Not that I watch shortland street all the time (ahem...) I think she only complains about this id thing because of conspirer_2. She does wear her id at work but she puts a picture of a cat on top of her photo. Somewhat a breach of security policy if you ask me. How can you identify a person without seeing the id photo? She's one of those who
thinks everyone else is wrong..like you should listen to that radio station because I do not...that sort of thing. She and her cop partner are being gossipped upon by conspirer_2 and tag_along_1...

oh who is tag_along_1? She is this person who always tags_along conspirer_2 and conspirer_3 like they are all best friends. In fact conspirer_2 always talk about the other two behind their backs. tag_along_1 is apparently suicidal - as revealed by conspirer_2 openly. Funny thing is, I thik it may be true because tag_along_1 is always longing for attention and now acts like conspirer_2. And she is not even their age. tag_along_1 is like twice conspirer_3's age. Very
weird I think as I never see older people hang out with the younger crowd like that. Except of course conspirer_1 who hangs with university students...and he is like their grandpa. tag_along_1 recenly also asked for her photo to be taken off the intranet. Funny
thing is, her photo has always been there and its been there for months and months until she met conspirer_2 and conspirer_3.

Anyway...enough of this work politics. Why can't all people just be nice?

Karma

Not too long ago, some staff here at work (three to be exact)
conspired to get a sales guy fired (we'll call them conspirer_1,
conspirer_2, and conspirer_3). They hated him so much because he is a
happy Christian. They called him 'clappy'. But not only that of
course. The sales guy has been suffering from poor sales for months
now and instead of helping him achieve better results, these three
gave him shit and provided nothing but negative criticism. I remember
several months ago that he actually lost it but he somehow found
strength and carried on. Anyway, Ever since he was made 'redundant'
(official term) one of the three who conspired got his job, which is
Sales manager. She (conspirer_3) of course is inexperienced and
although she does rake some money in, she got the job because of how
well she bullshits. Well most sales people are like that anyway - at
least by reputation. This one just happens to be stereotypical.

This new sales manager got the job because she was the favourite of
the season of a certain influential cry baby (conspirer_1). The main
reason she got the job is, not becuase she can sell but because she
was cry baby's puppet. But this somewhat changed lately. She is still
a puppet. But the difficulty of the job is showing. Results are not at
all getting better. I think they are now in some crisis mode and
looking for a scape goat. I wouldn't be surprise if she started
looking for a new job to cover herself.

What I don't understand is, why is there no coaching available. Surely
the best way to do business is to train your staff to be better
instead of firing and hiring the same inexperienced ones? I say
inexperienced because they cannot afford experienced/successful ones.
Plus successful ones wouldn't wanna work in their bullshit negative
environment.

Just the other day, one of the three conspirers had an argument with a
different sales person. I'm not taking sides here but the argument was
pretty intense and extremely negative towards the sales guy. The sales
guy was basically asking for some space for a free ad to help lift the
image of the product and hopefully it will help make the product more
appealing to potential buyers (as indicated by feedback from buyers)
but conspirer_2 negatively and openly opposed him. Instead of saying
"no, i cannot do that because...", she went on the attack. Of course
the sales guys was surprised as he wasn't expecting something like
this from conspirer_2, especially it is not really her job. It is more
like the job of conspirer_1. They argued for a few minutes and beign
in an open plan office, the rest of the area were looking as well.

We'll see how this one plays out. I sense conspirer_3 won't be here
for very long as she herself is becoming a victim.

Bad news for Xbox

After just a day from the release of the new Xbox 360 in the US, users have reported glitches and crashing and they seem to be common occurences. Quite unusual if you think about it. Didn't Microsoft test them? Did they know there are problems? Or did they simply ignore it hoping the machines that go on sale are not duds? Microsoft did admit that there are glitches and offered to pay for the shipping to and from the repair centres.

Lets hope this gets better in future versions when the price of the console drops.

SSDD

Same Shit Different Day!

Sinc ethe beginning of the week I've been putting up photos on the intranet as per administration's request. Their are a few and I have to export each photo to reduce the quality just enough so as to not clog up the server space.

Today idiot found out and "demanded" it be taken down. What are the chances...my computer crashed and it took me half an hour to get it back up. Idiot took this as me refusing to take it down. He's email two of his other "team mates". Martial Bitch never said anything but I think she emailed HR and complained about it. Constable Bitch, I think, also emailed HR about but she emailed me too. She said in a sort of calm way...please take it down ...I don't want it up there...it is a breach of privacy.

I'm emailed the office of the Privacy Commissioner about this and ask for an opinion. All three mother bitches claimed it is a breach in privacy. I don't think so but then again I may be wrong.

They are not the only ones who emailed HR. Me too...I emailed HR and told the HR manager of the problem and she couldn't believe it! She said, "I don't see what the problem is. They do not walk around with a paper bag on their heads." She went to ask the legal counsel (sits on next desk beside her) and she too said it does not breach privacy laws.

Now I think Martial Bitch and Constable Bitch both think that I'm in trouble with HR because they think I'm a prick who simply wanted to play tricks on them and put it up there. WRONG! I had orders from administration and this included the COO. In fact the COO was rushing me with this job. The HR manager told me, carry on uploading all the rest and I'll take the heat on these three. I can't wait to see the look on their faces when they find out that I was doing what was requested by HR. I wonder what they'll say then.

What annoys me is:
1) They think I'm doing this to have fun at their expense.

2) Idiot telling the other two...he is such a tattle tale.

3) I'm annoyed that they think they are so much better that everybody else that they do not have to do what others in the company is required to do. - Prima Donnas!

There is an explanation of the privacy act and this article pretty much states that:
1) you have to tell the person what the information is usewd for. In this case everyone were told that photos will be taken for the photo id cards and the photos will eventually be uploaded to the intranet to help identification in a large office environment.

2) The personal information cannot be used anywhere other than what it is intended for. In this case, the further it will go is the intranet phone book.

3) It also states that the company cannot release/disclose the personal information to third party agencies or persons. Which is the case here.


To be frank, I'm not sure what their problem is. I do not get what idiot is so concerned with. Is it because he is concerned that people will say he resembles a half shelled desert reptile?

Martial Bitch claims she has a phobia of some kind because when she was young she had a deformed upper lip of some shit like that. And that doctors have taken photos of her throughout her childhood...sounds like a lie to me...she looks perfectly normal and no operation can do that especially if the technology is 30 years ago.

Constable bitch actually don't look bad. She looks normal...I realy do not understand her problem. She is just using the breach of privacy and following the lead of the Martial Bitch and idiot.

I carried on adding photos to the intranet and made sure they saw it. So they'll know that I am not just fooling around with their photos.

It would be interesting to see their reaction when they get told by the HR that the request came from them. Proving them wrong.

If anybody have comments about the privacy act, please feel free to post a comment.

One last thing, if they are in pinas, patay na sila!

Hooray for tax cuts!

Michael Cullen is getting the pressure now. The Treasury is recommending tax cuts similar to what National proposed earlier during the election. Obviously National is not the only one who supports economic growth. Labour just do not understand this.

On a different note, I still do not understand why Winston Peters is the Minister of Foreign Affairs. He is clearly against foreigners, more specifically asians. He seem to deliver mixed messages...

Good news for student loan holders

The new government is pushing to have interest-free student loans.

However, unlike the last Lanour government promise, this time it looks like they are considering all student loan holders who are living in New Zealand.

I must admit that I wasn't expecting this from the Labour government since previously they only gave interest-free loans to students (students still studying) which means as soon as you get intot he work force, you get interest on your loan.

We'll see if this one comes true. It would be a good consolation prize for not havign a change in government.

Also, we have yet to see a change in the revenue-gathering *ahem** police system. So we'll keep an eye on that, too. More stories of 'sick police culture' are surfacing. Surely the governemnt will act.

Fireworks: Guy Fawkes revisted

Since my last posting about fireworks, I'm reconsidering my position regarding the legal status of fireworks.

Mainly because I am worried that education may not be enough to prevent disasters like these:

• Fireworks leave trail of destruction
• Loss of historic hut blamed on fireworks
• Blaze next to chemicals threatens stretch of city

I'm afraid there is no hope for stupidity such as ones demonstrated by youths today. It is usually the combination of alcohol, peer pressure, boredom, and lack of education from parents.

There are several solutions to this problem and I do not think there is single solution that can solve all. Reviewing the law may now be necessary. Partial ban may be required. Increasing age restrictions.

I mentioned boredom above because youths today easily et bored. Why not let malls open later? I'd rather see children in malls than hanging out with peers plotting some crazy shit.

Peer pressure is probably one of the harder things to control. But parental education plays a part in this. As long as children are well educated by parents, kids will not easily give in to peer pressure.

I still think education plays an important part in preventing disasters during the fireworks season. So here is my bit in educating people young and old:

First, try to avoid getting drunk when playing with fireworks. Alcohol reduces your reaction time - i.e. your flight response goes down.

Second, never let your friends dare you into doing something dangerous. Do not let them tell you that it is ok and it is safe.

If you were held at gun point and were forced to have stick a rocket up your arse, try sticking the rocket further up so the sparks are at its furthest from your cheeks.

In case you weren't able to avoid 1 and 2, once the rocket is lit up...if you do start feelin' the heat, bending backwards will only make your arse hold on to the stick tighter. You will end up burning more of your arse...

And your arse will look like this...

And you my friend, can now be called a DUMB ARSE with a numb arse (and not so numb)!!!

Another day ruined by idiot

Imagine you are told to fish a normal sized basketball out of the middle of the ocean with both your hands and feet tied behind your back. Hard right...? Impossible maybe. Idiot enjoys these things.

Problem is you come up with ideas and they will work fine but the old fashion idiot gets in the way. True there are potential problems to any idea but instead of putting disclaimers and clear labels, idiot shuts them down ASAP. If I know better I'd say he doesn't like the ideas because he wasn't the one who thought about them. Reminds me of the scene in Spiderman 2...

Newspaper editor (how appropriate): We need to give a name to the new villain Dr Octavius.
Other guy (I forgot his name in the movie): How about Dr Octopus?
Newspaper editor: Stupid idea...

Other guy suggests other names

Newspaper editor: I know...how about Dr Octopus! Doc Ock!

fucker!

After deliberating this ingenious idea (exactly how idiot described it) he tried to get some people to his corner of the ring. So he asked over a couple of people. We explained to them. But to his surprise, they both liked the idea and thought any of idiot's concerns can easily be protected with safeguards - kinda like shields.

Idiot rambles on and knowing the idea is actually good, he focuses his attention on something else! He goes, "this is confusing! Shouldn't this be here and this there. I think anyone who comes here will become confused!"

More like just you! If you are so against it, why even bother commenting on the arrangement!? He then asks why his usual ally is quiet...hehe... sad really.

Just when you think its over (and he is going to dismiss the idea anyway) he focuses the attention to something else again! This time he focuses the attention to something that we agreed last year! Well I've already implemented what you wanted last year! It was an old matter.

Finally, thinking that the two focus shifts he made was enough justification, he rejects the idea openly. What a fucker!

I told myself yesterday that I'm not annoyed at his decision...but maybe I am just a little. Not because he rejected it. Not because he knew about it months ago and only decided to reject it now AFTER I completed it. But because of how he handled it.

This is a guy who claims he likes change. Hypocritical fucker!

On a separate but somewhat related matter, he tried to force the responsibility of this event to me when it is really someone else's. Funny thing is, idiot brought it up with his boss and she looked at this other person first instead of me. haha..clearly she thinks it is another person's responsibility too! Oh I don't mind helping though. Which I have initiated yesterday with the department responsible. So I'm working with them.

Yesterday I got a present in the mail. No it was not a bomb or white powder. It was in fact a chocolate fish. It came from a customer who rewarded me for my customer service efforts. How nice of her. The thing is, this customer service was not even my job...hehe. Do I get a praise from idiot about it? not really. Not as much as I deserve. He didn't even mention it to other department heads the way he usually mentions himself.

Don't wanna make too much fuss about it. Choc fish made my day - which later was ruined by idiot.

I love this job, but I hate THE idiot!

Fireworks blaze just averted

Would a video footage help? Or maybe a phone number of the offender?

So this is why my case was never followed up

A guy named Charles Simms (no not from the game) reported his van being stolen in September this year. He apparently reported it to the police and even provided a name and phone number.

The police never followed it up. Didn't do anything.

The herald reported that this is how the police handle crime reports (and what I think it means):

Mandatory services
Responding to ministerial correspondence (Speeding especially when the PM enjoys it)
Responding to parliamentary questions (Why were you speeding?)
Sudden deaths (Which sport?)

Critical services
Home burglaries (Even though this is under critical services, they do not respond for days)
Homicide (Now this one they do respond, hopefully on time though)
Serious drug offences (I think they use the confiscated drugs themselves and form a 'sick police culture' over in South Auckland)

Priority services
Vehicle theft (If this is a priority, why wasn't Simms' case followed up? Especially he gave the cops a lead)
Family violence (oh you mean police officers raping women?)
Child abuse (I hope so. Although Child, Youth and Family usually respond to these)
Robbery (ah yes, you dial 111 and report a robbery and the first thing they ask is if the offender is still there, if not, they continue on their sick culture and come several days later)

Discretionary
Commercial burglaries (I do not know why this is separate from Robberies...oh yes...the offender is not there so it is not priority!)
Theft from cars (As above, what is stopping them from investigating if leads are provided)
Company fraud (hey, steal millions of dollars from companies and the police may NOT investigate!)
Shoplifting (Commerical vs retail...since it is under the 'we don't care' section, might as well combine this with the Commerical Burglaries)


The police system is useless. The Herald did forget one thing under Mandatory. i.e. Revenue gathering, issuing speeding tickets, rituals for sick police culture!

Worse than a teenage girl in a clothing store

Another annoying day.

I have this project right... I wrote up a document describing it weeks
ago where this person, whom for the sake of this entry we'll call him
"idiot", approves it.

Initial idiot said he wanted this project to look like so and so.

So..I made it look like so and so just as he asked. I also documented
all these in my paperwork complete with layout diagrams and page
descriptions!

I've completed this project and now I need for idiot to check it, he
changes his mind and complains about the layout and design and shit.
He wants this changed, he wants that changed...what happened to the
document you agreed on several weeks ago?!?

Knowing idiot, I sorta expected it. Now the layout looks nothing like
the original planned.

I don't get. I had someone else tried using this site and she, without
confusion and question, was able to find her way around!

I reckon it must be old age kickin in...he complains quite often about
this other colleague of ours and idiot calls him senile...me thinks he
is not far away.

Guess What...

Police are on spot light again?

At the beginning of the year when I made a complaint to the police about a theft incident, they didn't do anything. They completely ignored my story (check out the June Archive). But since then police incompetence seem to have quiet down a bit until today.

Police ignore park thieves on film
Now this is just sad. I feel a bit better now as my complaint to the cops didn't have the benefit of a security camera unlike this one. Although I did have a document with photo evidence and witness accounts. It was like I did the investigation for them. But they ignored it. Don't get me wrong. I'm way over it - for a long time. I have some to accept that the cops in this town are stupid and incompetent. To be fair to good cops, it is the police system that doesn't work.

Fines in mail for dobbed-in drivers
Here is another one. Is this even legal? So this means anyone can make a complaint about anyone and they will be given a ticket!?

I think this is unfair and not on! A warning would be more appropriate. Another symptom of the ailing police system.

Guy fawkes

Yesterday I was switching channels between NCIS, LOTR, and C4. On C4 there was this guy "reviewing" firecrackers that are currently available for purchase for the up coming Guy Fawkes Day on saturday (if I'm not mistaken).

This dumbass(!!!) is such a bad example. Considering he is showing this on TV and that the majority of viewers are youg people, I thought TV4 would have been more responsible when it comes on safety issues.

What this guy does is light up each one up and gives them scores (out of 5 I believe). The problem is, he holds each one using his left hand and lights them with a lighter using the right hand - WHILE HOLDING IT! How stupid can that be!? These are the fountain and spinning types - the one yo normally put on the ground.

The proper way of lighting them up is to put them on the ground first and make sure they are firmly on the ground. i.e. they are not wobbling on an uneven surface. Then light them up. Better still, these packs you can buy usually comes with a plastic base/stand where you can secure the firecracker befre lighting them. The reason for this is sometimes the force of the flames can cause the firecracker to tip on its side and may endanger people around it.

This guy never followed any of the safety procedures! I think this poses a very bad example for young people who today already cause a lot of problems during Guy Fawkes. We all enjoy fireworks and I am not an exception. In fact I think educating people about fireworks is more important than banning them altogether. We are after all are not in the hitler era.

Shame on you C4!

Jessica Alba

TOPLESS!!!! < - CLick to view

RARE!

Conversation heard at work

2 girls and a an australian guy, talking about the plant beside their desks...

Blonde 1: What does it mean when the leaves turn brown?

Blonde 2: It means the plant is dying.

Blonde 1: [Startled and worried look on her face]

Plant Lady walks pass...

Australian Guy (asking the plant lady): Does it hurt them if you cut the leaves?

Drinking Lesson

I hope you don't do this shakoo. (wait for it to load fully then watch the normal speed)

Rabbit Sex

Hmmm...

wtf?

Rats as big as cats

This is cool man. I saw the other photo where a man was holding one of the rats. Huge as. You can put them on a leash and take them for a walk.

(Source: NZ Herald)

Giant rats put to work detecting mines


MOZAMBIQUE - Gambian giant pouch rats are being put to work in Vilancoulos, southern Mozambique, to detect mines planted in the country's 20-year civil war. The rats are trained from an early age to associate the scent of explosives with a food reward and indicate the suspected presence of explosives by grooming and scratching the earth. The rats, which grow as large as a domestic cat, have a sense of smell as powerful as that of a dog. They have also been used in the diagnosis of tuberculosis by smelling blood samples in a Belgian research programme. The clearing of Mozambique's many minefields is funded by international donations, the country's non-government organisations and the Government.

Blonde Chick Asking for Trouble

Ghost in the machine

I was on my way to work two days ago when I stopped at the Nelson Street Off-ramp traffic light from the N'Western M'Way. I sat in the middle lane waiting for the light to turn green. It didn't take long. I changed into 1st gear and started rolling.

Suddenly, my engine went dead. I let go of the clutch and I felt the engine breaking. I stopped in the middle and for a few seconds I was blcoking everyone else on the road.

Shit!

I held the clutch in and pressed on my ignition and the engine started again. By this time the lights went red again so I stayed there until it was my turn to go. All the time I was sitting there, I reviewed what had happened in my head. It wasn't clear but due to the circumstances I concluded that I must have miscalculated my clutch release and the engine died. Simple.

Do you want to hear something freaky?

Tonight after work I was on my way home. I left work late so it was already dark and the motorway was pretty clear. It wasn't raining, thank goodness, but it was windy. So there I was on the N'Western M'Way heading Northwest...I was travelling at flight speed with my headlights on.

Approaching the waterview exit, all of a sudden my engine died. My headlights turned off. I was still in gear and since there is no power, the bike started slowing down. I cautiously proceeded changing lanes towards the shoulder...I was on the fast lane. I had to pull my clutch in just to make sure I can enough roll.

When I stopped safely on the shoulder. I thought, shit! I hope it is not my battery dying. I don't even recall leaving headlights on or draining the battery in some way. I remembered what had happened to me 2 days earlier. It looked familiar.

I looked at my dash and it was ll off. I tried to figure it out although I was not panicking. By accident I managed to turn the key and I saw the red light on the dash come on.

I paused - wait a second. How can the ignition be in the off position. I never turned it off. I was going at flight speed looking on the road and no where were my hands anywhere near the ignition key.

I turned the key and started the engine. The engine started first time.

But that's not all. Here is the weirder part...my dash back light is off because my headlights were off. How can this be. It was on. I always turn it on even during the day time and I certainly would turn it on at night. It was on as soon as I got out of the carpark...My headlight switch is one of those lever type and turns off when you pull the level towards the right. So even if I accidentally pushed the headlight switch, it would not have turned off.

How can:
1) My engine turn off by itself; my ignition turning into off position when I have not touched it while I was going at fligth speed?
2) My headlights turn off when I was nowhere near the switch and even if I was to accidentally push the switch, it would have gone to the "on" position?

the weirdest bit is, how can 1) and 2) happen at the same time?

Another Bali Bombing

What is the reason this time? Why would terrorists keep on bombing tourist places like these? If they want to make a statement, perhaps they should organise an attack on government buildings and officials instead of the members of the public.

Back with the old I guess

National leader Don Brash finally conceded ... Helen Clark is again NZ's Prime Minister and we again have a Labour-led government.

While some may disagree, I do think this is NOT the best for NZ. In fact, more than 70 percent of people at my work disagree with this result.

No it is not the rich people voting! None of us at work are rich folks. Just normal people. Not the highly paid tv/news type of people.

Personally one of the changes I want to see is the improvement of the Police System so that the police will better protect and serve the people who ultimately are their employers. I do not want to pay cops to gather more revenue from me. I want the police to investigate crime no matter how small and not wait until a dairy worker gets killed because every other complaint in the area was ignored.

Taxes. While taxes are essential for the running of the country, I do not believe in paying more than I should so that the government will have too much of a surplus. I do not believe in people living off dole. Yes, benefits can help some people get back on their feet or survive through studying. But I've paid enough tax to repay what I received and much much more.

Yehey for the student loan holders?!? Student loan interests will be written off by Labour. Is this for all student loan holders? Or is it just for the students? Abolishing the interest rates will encourage new students to borrow more. What about working people with student loans? Don't they get interest write offs? Oh yeah...now that they are working, they are forgotten..no wait! They're not forgotten. These are the people who will be funding the new students!

Roading and public transport. These two are in conflict. Some people say roading is more important especially for businesses. While others prefer public transport. Personally, I think we need both. We need roads so businesses can transport goods. So that people who build this country can go to work. Public transport cannot do that - "Hey boss, hurry up with my deliveries. I need to catch the 470 bus!". In saying that we do need public transport for "public transport" We have a pathetic train system. Our bus system is not so efficient. Hopefully Helen can give us more roads and more public transport.

I only know a few people who support Labour. I am not criticising you for voting for the government who you think is going to serve your best interest. In fact, we all vote for the government we think is going to serve us best. In a way we are all selfish. But one thing I do find is that some people tend to choose a government based on what they want in the near future. Such as within the government's term. I made that mistake once as a student. Now that I'm not a student anymore, the government has forgotten about me.

Somehow the government can only see the lazy as folks and continue to give them benefits and shit. They don't contribute to society! What about prisoners? I hear they get fed a lot with motel like facilities. They are in a rehab program, not on holiday!

The Greens...what about them tree-huggers huh? Look dudes, I care about nature and trees and I am against polluting the earth and shit but the Greens are going to take us back into the stone age. That caveman Nandor Tancos is definitely in the "stoned" age. Apparently he is now goign to the bush to medidate since he lost his seat. While you're at it you probably want to tend to your hydroponics eh?

What is it with the GE debate? Granted, GE can be dangerous if not used properly but banning it does not help progress. We are not gods but if "God" gave us the brains then I do not see why we can't use it to better ourselves. All we need is better regulation.

*sigh* enough ranting...good morning...

road rage

in recent times, i have learned to simmer down when ever i feel engaged in a heated argument, or when i can see the symptoms of this malady coming to a head. today, i neither had control nor the predisposition to rise above a case of road rage.

i was waiting for a parking space to be vacated by a shopper, and i reversed by a bit to make more room for him. as i look at the back, there's another car parked behind me. i thought, "plenty of room", so i did what i had to. then he honked at me with some degree of passion, which prompted me to release my seat belt prematurely. my mother, whose company i kept this afternoon, became anxious as she is aware of the Hulk fighting to get out. instead, i merely waited patiently in my seat, and tried to park the car gracefully as the previous occupant was leaving. but as i was driving in, the driver in the other car stared me down, and talked as if in a silent movie behind their shut windows. bad move. as soon as i parked the car, i marched to his direction, and naturally, we had a colourful exchange of words. my mother held me with her wisdom: "don't stoop down to their level". by then i knew i was doing more damage to us more than to anyone else. and i stopped.