tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57627142024-03-14T04:17:12.250+08:00Null SpaceI chose not to choose life. I chose something else. And the reasons? There are no reasons. Who needs reasons when you've got a blog?Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398405626261041630noreply@blogger.comBlogger191125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5762714.post-6301093019482528272009-06-09T05:33:00.005+08:002009-06-09T05:43:21.755+08:00Public Service Announcement: Dried WakameSo, today I purchased a package of dried wakame, or seaweed, to put in my miso soup. The instructions of the packet were innocuous enough. <br /><br />"Cover amount of wakame to be used with cold water. Let stand for 4 to 6 minutes, or until rehydrated and desired tenderness is reached."<br /><br />What they fail to mention is just how big each little flake of wakame becomes when exposed to water. Look!<br /><br /><center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nullspace/3608879946/" title="Dried Wakame: A Public Service Announcement by Null_Space, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3412/3608879946_112c1b713a.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Dried Wakame: A Public Service Announcement" /></a></center><br /><br />Each one of those little pieces at the bottom becomes the size of the ones above. Store away from water. Do not feed after midnight, lest your 57g packet swell to size of your kitchen and beyond!<br /><br />This has been a Public Service Announcement!Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398405626261041630noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5762714.post-20539967958471395092009-04-10T06:56:00.002+08:002009-04-10T07:16:26.762+08:00In LondonWell, I've been in London since Saturday and haven't updated my blog and don't really have time now as I should be alseep as I'm heading to Bradford tomorrow for <a href="http://lx2009.com">Eastercon</a>. (Wimpy British can't handle a 5 day con, apparently. Eastercon is only 4!)<br /><br />Suffice to say that I'm alive and well and have trodden a fair bit of pavement the last week. And just to prove I am here, here's a nice picture of the London Eye at night, from the Hungerford Bridge.<br /><br /><center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nullspace/3427793618/" title="London Eye at Night by Null_Space, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3634/3427793618_4b50dcc1f5.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="London Eye at Night" /></a></center>Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398405626261041630noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5762714.post-12615055847928069782009-04-03T22:59:00.003+08:002009-04-03T23:01:32.471+08:00Off to New AdventuresTyping this from a public terminal in Changi airport in Singapore, while eating a red bean bao.<br /><br />I love being out in the world.<br /><br />And now to catch my flight to London, on an Airbus A380. Awesome!Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398405626261041630noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5762714.post-18737105070021608132009-03-06T18:26:00.003+09:002009-03-06T18:31:51.149+09:00Big AfootsIn my NYE post I said "Plans are already afoot for big things, big changes and big adventures in 2009."<br /><br />So here is the big one.<br /><br />On the 3rd of April, I'm going to the UK. I'm going to go to <a href="http://lx2009.com">Eastercon</a> this year, instead of Swancon.<br /><br />And then I'm staying on for the next six months.<br /><br />The plan is to try and find work and use the proceeds to see bits of Europe.<br /><br />It's all big and huge and exciting and a bit scary at the same time.<br /><br />But definitely a big adventure.Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398405626261041630noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5762714.post-29354047530749786662009-02-04T01:27:00.002+09:002009-02-04T01:44:22.569+09:00The Day the Music DiedIt's been 50 years since Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and The Big Boppper (J. P. Richardson) died in a plane crash near Clear Lake Iowa, with their pilot, Roger Peterson. <br /><br />Of the three recording artists, one is the subject of a long running stage play, another was the subject of a Golden Globe nominated bio-pic, and the Big Bopper remains an unlucky bit part.Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398405626261041630noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5762714.post-43333264221376749402009-01-21T02:30:00.002+09:002009-01-21T02:34:48.327+09:00And So It Begins...The Presidential Oath of Office could have gone a little bit smoother, but the speech was nice. Full of so much conviction that all things are possible, and that everything can be made better with hard work and smart choices.<br /><br />Good luck!Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398405626261041630noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5762714.post-8536393588560256002009-01-21T01:01:00.002+09:002009-01-21T01:05:48.779+09:00A New StartRight now, the most densely populated place in the planet is the National Mall in Washington DC, where 2 million people are gathered for the Presidential inauguration.<br /><br />*boggles*<br /><br />And it's -5C degrees.Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398405626261041630noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5762714.post-88821978989748199942009-01-01T19:13:00.005+09:002009-01-01T19:28:27.598+09:00NYE 2008/NY 2009Some stats:<br /><ul><br /><li>Number of parties attended: 5</li><br /><li>Distance travelled: 167km</li><br /><li>Number of parties where I forgot to take photographs: 4 :(</li><br /><li>Number of parties where I delivered portions of someone else's wedding cake: 2</li><br /><li>Time that left home: 6:35pm 31 December 2008</li><br /><li>Time returned home: 5:05am 1 January 2009</li><br /></ul><br />And here's a picture of dawn's first light.<br /><br /><center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nullspace/3155120743/" title="Dawn - 2009 by Null_Space, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3105/3155120743_7d99368b7b.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Dawn - 2009"/></a></center><br /><br />Plans are already afoot for big things, big changes and big adventures in 2009. Looking forward to it all, and will document here once things are a bit firmer.Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398405626261041630noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5762714.post-53519525649165812732008-11-30T00:24:00.002+09:002008-11-30T00:31:03.304+09:00Consumerism KillsA Wal-Mart employee was <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7755278.stm">trampled to death</a> during the the 'Black Friday' post-Thanksgiving sales in Long Island.<br /><br />By a crowd of shoppers.<br /><br />After discounted goods.<br /><br />I'm wondering what sort of a deep discount balances the loss of a life and injury to several others.Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398405626261041630noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5762714.post-2531695057980396962008-11-13T23:18:00.000+09:002008-11-13T23:20:34.738+09:00Some observationsDrumming is hard.<br /><br />I like guacamole.Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398405626261041630noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5762714.post-26491904380050688012008-11-11T23:21:00.002+09:002008-11-11T23:36:21.854+09:00Resurrecting the FallenAfter a hard drive failure last week, I got brave this afternoon and undertook an open-case transplant on my faithful G4 PowerBook. There were a couple of tricky moments, with case clips and keyboard cables, but <a href="http://www.ifixit.com/">iFixit</a> had a pretty decent guide, with pictures.<br /><br />I put OS X 10.5 on the new disk and was pleasantly surprised to discover that, compared to 10.3, the machine seems to perform better! So far, things are familiar, but different enough in places to cause some mild irritation.<br /><br />With the reinstall, I'm on the lookout for a new multi-protocol IM client. I was using <a href="http://fire.sourceforge.net/">Fire</a>, but the project shutdown a while ago. I've loaded <a href="http://adiumx.com/">Adium</a> for now, but was wondering if anyone had any better recommendations?<br /><br />Haven't had any luck trying to get data off the old hard drive as yet (which is failing to spin up. Trying real hard, just not quite getting there), so I've left in the ITS Data Recovery Chamber (aka the freezer in the kitchette at work) overnight. We'll see what happens.Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398405626261041630noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5762714.post-61851050943564080642008-11-06T00:31:00.003+09:002008-11-06T02:09:57.403+09:00I was...going to post about how it was a bleak, rainy and windswept night and how it matched my mood, but that was at midnight after having collected my mobile which I'd accidentally left on my desk at work before rushing off to a play without having had any dinner, but now that I have eaten something (some pasta with oily stuff and a sandwich), I think I'm just really tired rather than desperately unhappy.<br /><br />Oh, and the play was good too. Had Angriest and Lie_xin in it. It was called '<a href="http://www.grads.org.au/">A Laughing Matter</a>' and has three more nights to run. Go see it.Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398405626261041630noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5762714.post-37459728649439810252008-10-21T20:58:00.003+08:002008-10-21T21:32:39.578+08:00Hack Your Hardware - LinksSome links from the 'Hack Your Hardware' panel at Wastelands.<br /><br /><a href="http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/CHDK"><br />Canon Digital Camera Firmware "Extensions" - CHDK</a><br /><br /><a href="http://wiibrew.org/wiki/Index.php"><br />Twilight Hack / Wii Homebrew Channel</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~johnny/projects/wii/">Johnny Lee's Wiimote software</a> <br /><ul><br /><li><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5s5EvhHy7eQ">Virtual Whiteboard (YouTube)</a><br /><li><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jd3-eiid-Uw">Headtracking for Desktop VR Displays (YouTube)</a><br /></ul><br /><br />Wiimote interface software for Symbian 60 based mobile phones<br /><ul><br /><li><a href="http://symbian-resources.com/projects/wiirider.php">WiiConnect/WiiRider</a><br /><li><a href="http://www.mobi-pad.com/">Mobi-Pad</a><br /></ul><br /><br /><a href="http://scummvm.sourceforge.net/">SCUMMvm</a> Virtual Machine for running certain classic graphical point-and-click adventure games (from LucasArts and others), provided you already have their data files.<br /><br />Korg MS-10 <a href="http://www.aqi.co.jp/product/ds10/en/index.html">emulator for the Nintendo DS</a><br /><br />If anyone can remember anything else we talked about, leave a comment.Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398405626261041630noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5762714.post-59718466005896897902008-10-18T00:28:00.003+08:002008-10-18T00:34:04.881+08:00Queen of FacebookTo commemorate Queen Elizabeth II's visit to Google yesterday, the BBC commissioned <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sue_Townsend">Sue Townsend</a> to write a piece imagining the Queen up late surfing the 'net.<br /><br />It can read, or listened to (as performed by Dead Ringers cast member Jan Ravens) <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_7672000/7672412.stm">here</a>.Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398405626261041630noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5762714.post-56175633669136055442008-10-14T23:36:00.005+08:002008-10-14T23:52:22.725+08:00Macroeconomic Slasher FlickFor the last few years in Australia we've seen the Federal Government, in conjunction with the Reserve Bank, with the exception of some blatent showing off for the girls in the backseat around election time, drive the economy fairly cautiously down the road, tapping on the breaks occasionally with a series small interest rate rises and recently a well publicised tightening in government spending to try and stop the whole thing from spinning out of control.<br /><br />Except, I've been noticing that the other economies along the side of the road have been throwing money at their banking systems, trying to shore things up, bring in the signage and boarding over the windows. There's less people on the street.<br /><br />And we've just suddenly stomped on the acclerator, with a massive single interest rate cut, signalled that there will be more, and are going to push $10 billon dollars out of back the car.<br /><br />Have we come up to a hill? Or is there really something out there in the darkness that's got our scent?Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398405626261041630noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5762714.post-30171246653194941952008-09-18T23:01:00.002+08:002008-09-18T23:11:17.266+08:00Unexpected Social CommentaryGo and see WALL-E. Now. Even if you already have.<br /><br />Very cool and clever movie, and quite emotionally engaging, considering the two main characters are animated robots. I laughed (a lot), I cried (a bit) and came out feeling much better and uplifted than when I went in. (maybe not hard - I've not been having much fun lately)<br /><br />And I think, coz of the positive emotional impact, I think it's my pick for best movie I've seen this year.<br /><br />And the short was very funny. Simple characters, appropriate setting and a clever conceit used for a lot of rapid-fire jokes and it's done before it outstays it's welcome.Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398405626261041630noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5762714.post-29313008642733077922008-09-01T21:07:00.002+08:002008-09-01T21:18:35.098+08:00South Park Freak OutI'm not quite sure why, but tonight's episdoe of South Park, <a href="http://www.tv.com/south-park/britneys-new-look/episode/1186823/summary.html?tag=ep_list;ep_title;1">featuring Britney Spears with no head</a>, is freaking me out. I mean, really, really freaking me out. Hoping <a href="http://www.tv.com/the-mighty-boosh/journey-to-the-centre-of-the-punk/episode/1152476/summary.html?tag=ep_list;ep_title;1">The Mighty Boosh</a> will make me feel better.<br /><br />Nope. Not helping.Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398405626261041630noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5762714.post-4655612616517073822008-08-18T22:47:00.001+08:002008-08-18T22:49:03.258+08:00MagpieThere's a magpie outside warbling. I usually don't mind such a thing, but it's nighttime and I need to sleep.<br /><br />Ssshh!Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398405626261041630noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5762714.post-36341071247074940512008-05-15T22:30:00.002+08:002008-05-15T22:40:56.516+08:00The Male Dress CodeBeing a terrible clothes shopper, I succumbed to the adverts I saw and watched 'Trinny and Susannah Undress the Nation' episode on Men's clothes.<br /><br />Whilst I'm not entirely sold on the rules they came up with, they might be worth at least having a go at, but I'm not quite sure what body shape I fall under.<br /><br />The Male Dress Code pamphlet can be <a href="http://www.itv.com/documents/pdf/dress_code.pdf">download here.</a>Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398405626261041630noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5762714.post-56223146307004593392008-04-23T21:04:00.002+08:002008-04-23T21:09:07.282+08:00Stupid AdvertsEarlier, Red Rooster invited me to grease for lunch, and now the ABC have invite me to shower them with gold.<br /><br />Does anyone think these things through?Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398405626261041630noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5762714.post-6540107378318586202008-02-21T21:27:00.003+09:002008-02-21T21:32:21.146+09:00Dear Reader's DigestWhat on earth makes you think I'm going to be fooled by an envelope that has "Express Day Timed Delivery" and "Deadline Document Enclosed" printed on, when it's quite obviously and more importantly marked on the top right "Postage Paid - Off Peak - Australia"?Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398405626261041630noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5762714.post-79925488435579586902007-12-31T13:14:00.001+09:002007-12-31T13:42:09.703+09:00Super Paper Mario(Warning: some very minor spoilers)<br /><br />I've finally gotten back into playing SPM after bit of break after <em>Guitar Hero III</em> arrived on the scene, and I want to finish it before I really get into <em>Super Mario Galaxy</em>.<br /><br /><em>Super Paper Mario</em> is a hybrid of the RPG and platforming genres. The <em>Paper Mario</em> series to this point (at least the ones I've played) have been almost pure RPG, complete with turn-based combat. This time around its mostly a platformer, with RPG elements. You have party members, hit points, attack points and special items. You don't get to choose where to put points when you level up, which I think is a bit rotten, as I'd really love to put up my defense level.<br /><br />The plot: Count Bleck, using a book of dark prophecy, has set in motion a series of events which will result in the destruction of the multiverse. Fortunately, there's a book of light prophecy that gives clues on how to stop that from happening, so that you, the player, get to use your party of Mario, Luigi, Peach and Bowser to travel to various universes to collect seven 'Pure Hearts'. To aid you in a number of the puzzles are helper icons called 'Pixls' that perform various functions, such as making you tiny, or giving you the 'ground pound' move.<br /><br />Some of the game is a bit repetitive, but then the plot will go somewhere unexpected - in one chapter you end up being stuck in a universe when it collapses. The other thing that's really keeping me going is the unexpected emotional depth in the character interaction. Things aren't what they seem, the villian is becoming more and more grey in his motivations and the end of the chapter I finished last night was truly heartwrenching.<br /><br />Definitely recommended.Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398405626261041630noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5762714.post-2778673372494945132007-12-31T13:14:00.000+09:002007-12-31T13:37:31.761+09:00Super Paper Mario(Minor SpoilersI've finally gotten back into playing SPM after bit of break after <em>Guitar Hero III</em> arrived on the scene, and I want to finish it before I really get into <em>Super Mario Galaxy</em>.<br /><br /><em>Super Paper Mario</em> is a hybrid of the RPG and platforming genres. The <em>Paper Mario</em> series to this point (at least the ones I've played) have been almost pure RPG, complete with turn-based combat. This time around its mostly a platformer, with RPG elements. You have party members, hit points, attack points and special items. You don't get to choose where to put points when you level up, which I think is a bit rotten, as I'd really love to put up my defense level.<br /><br />The plot: Count Bleck, using a book of dark prophecy, has set in motion a series of events which will result in the destruction of the multiverse. Fortunately, there's a book of light prophecy that gives clues on how to stop that from happening, so that you, the player, get to use your party of Mario, Luigi, Peach and Bowser to travel to various universes to collect seven 'Pure Hearts'. To aid you in a number of the puzzles are helper icons called 'Pixls' that perform various functions, such as making you tiny, or giving you the 'ground pound' move.<br /><br />Some of the game is a bit repetitive, but then the plot will go somewhere unexpected - in one chapter you end up being stuck in universe when it collapses. The other thing that's really keeping me going is the unexpected emotional depth in the character interaction. Things aren't what they seem, the villian is becoming more and more grey in his motivations and the end of the chapter I finished last nioghtSimonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398405626261041630noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5762714.post-5732266885247620482007-12-21T10:02:00.000+09:002007-12-21T10:06:51.483+09:00An Invite Down the PubMe and Grant and Sonia are going to hang out at the Brass Monkey in Northbridge for a bit from 2pm on Sunday afternoon (23rd of December).<br /><br />If you feel like coming and joining us, please feel welcome to do so!Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398405626261041630noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5762714.post-34204822213897753112007-12-13T22:56:00.000+09:002007-12-13T23:01:54.973+09:00Liquidity in the UKAs I was standing there with my three-quarter size Gibson Les Paul shaped controller playing Guitar Hero III, strumming along to a new version of 'Anarchy in the UK' that the Sex Pistols recorded especially for the game, that it crossed my mind that maybe they always were only in it for the money all along...Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398405626261041630noreply@blogger.com