Maths fail

I have been meaning to post this for a while. Spot the problem. From failblog.

February 15, 2009

All fixed now

Well, almost. My blog was down for a while today. My hosting provider – dedicated host – had some issues switching over to a new payment system. They lost payment details and suspended my account. Apologies to anybody who has been trying to get on today…

Dedicated Host have the best customer service I’ve experienced from an online company. I emailed today at about 4.00pm notifying them of the problem and I had a response in minutes and the problem fixed very shortly thereafter. And a free month’s hosting as a sweetener. They get an A+ for customer service.

As do Coffee Dominion. My coffee machine issues were not as simply fixed as I thought last weekend. There was a leaking seal spraying water all over the control panel’s circuitry. Water and electricity don’t mix. I normally order parts online through coffeeparts.com.au – who are good. But postage for a small o-ring is expensive and the Coffee Dominion team pointed me to their local seal supplier. Who were also helpful. My machine is now up and running safely.

I isolated the power issues in my computer – my video card died a painful death at the hands of either the tropical heat or humidity. I’m not sure which. But it’s working now too. Thanks to the onboard video card. 

So, now it’s just the breadmaker. Which has been almost completely dismantled. In fact, everytime I overcome one problem with it and get a little excited, I break something else in my haste. There aren’t many more pieces left to break. And I now know exactly what goes into a breadmaker. I guess that could be exciting for some people.

February 15, 2009

The best bits – February 15, 2009

February 15, 2009

The best bits – February 14, 2009

Here's what has excited me from the blogosphere today.

February 14, 2009

Race around in blocks

Little sister number two has a long held, deep seeded (or seated?) ambition to install lego boards into her car’s dash and keep pieces for passengers to play with in the glove box. She’s been outdone. Check out this Flickr set. There are a bunch of other car modification ideas here. 
 

February 13, 2009

People say she’s crazy she’s got diamonds on…

The soles of her coffee machine? Well, that’s one way to solve these economic blues.

What do you buy the coffee lover that has everything? How bout a Swarovski crystal encrusted coffee machine? Why? I don’t know.

February 13, 2009

Autocomplete this sentence…

Autocomplete based on popular google searches is a pretty dangerous thing. Don’t type random vowels into YouTube – you’re likely to be shocked by what other people are looking for. 

I don’t know if this is a photoshop job – I haven’t tested it yet. But I will.

Update – I tested these phrases in the autocomplete searchbar in Chrome. It seems they’re legit.

Gizmodo has shared a couple of pretty funny stories about Google autocomplete this week. Pictures below. Click them for a link to the full sized image if you can’t see the hilarious autocomplete results. 

February 13, 2009

A short history of the internet

Everything you didn’t need to know about the internet but may have been curious about… I saw this a few weeks ago and ummed and ahhed about posting it. I decided it is worthy.

February 13, 2009

Vader after dentist

There’s a growing trend of reply and counter reply videos being made for popular YouTube videos. Here’s a great response to the “David after Dentist” video I posted last week… It made me laugh. Out loud.

February 13, 2009

Rethinking the classics

A few weeks ago, or was it only one or two, I posted a bunch of movies re-envisaged as old books. There’s now a gallery of computer games given the same treatment over at Kotaku. A game focused blog that’s worth reading if you’re that way inclined. Here are two of my all time favourite games.

I like how World of Warcraft looks like a toilet.

February 13, 2009

The best bits – February 13, 2009

Here's what has excited me from the blogosphere today.

February 13, 2009

Will it blend: coffee

Will it Blend is the viral marketer’s dream. Who’d have thought getting the managing director of the company to blend cool stuff with this magic blender would capture the attention of hundreds of thousands of regular viewers. 

Now, Will it Blend’s Blendtek blender takes on the high end coffee grinder market. 

February 13, 2009

How to keep track of what you’ve read

I have a great deal of respect for John Piper. Which reminds me of a post I was going to write about all the sermons we listened to on the road in New Zealand. I’ll get to that one day.

John Piper is the “preaching pastor” of a wildly successful evangelical church in the US. He gives very few interviews. He’s old(ish) and seems pretty humble, passionate and level headed. He recently did do an interview online and here’s a great tip for keeping track of important bits from books. Create your own index. Piper doesn’t reread anything – but here’s how he keeps track of ideas:

When you finish a book, what system have you developed in order to remember and reference that book in the future?

“I index books as I read them, by writing short notes in the front of the book with page numbers beside them. In a good book there may be over a hundred such notes.”

February 12, 2009

This is why you’re fat: deep fried peanut buttered cookie dough brownie edition

This guy’s series of photos on Flickr made it to Digg and This is Why You’re Fat… The popularity of this concept – a deep fried peanut buttered, cookie dough covered brownie ball – perhaps demonstrating once and for all why America has an obesity problem. I guess this is where my toasted mars bar sandwich concept fails. It’s not deep fried.

February 12, 2009

Force sale: Q&A

The bidding war for Luke Skywalker continues to rage. At the moment it’ll only set you back $3.76.

It is attracting some important questions from ebay user Bluesky_Mike. I have two theories for the identity of Bluesky_Mike based on some revealing previous purchases. I have one friend named Mike who is a VirginBlue employee and a Parramatta Eels fan, I have another friend named Mike who is also a Parramatta Eels fan. Bluesky_Mike purchased some Boeing memorabilia and a retro Eels Jersey so my money is on the first candidate.

Here are some important questions you may want/need answered if considering a purchase:

Q: Is ok for a grown man to make the lightsabre “woosh” with this figurine? 12-Feb-09
A: I would think it’s always ok for a grown man to make the lightsabre “woosh”. I’m not sure the figurine is required for that. It will however help you figure out the best grip and stance for your lightsabre bouts. But be careful, making the lightsaber “woosh” at inappropriate times can have serious consequences. I would recommend warning people prior to “wooshing” in order to minimise the effect.
Q: After the purchase of this item, can I change my name to be known as Luke Skywalker? 12-Feb-09
A: You can do that before you purchase the item. A quick trip to court and a small fee and you’d be set. However, I suggest purchasing the item is a good way to help start your new life as Mr Skywalker. The figurine provides an essential guide to dressing like a Jedi and Jedi posture.
Q: Just enquiring about local pickup?? 11-Feb-09
A: As I said above – local pickup can be arranged. There is a tax on people who ask the same question twice.
Q: Will I become a Jedi if I buy this item? 11-Feb-09
A: I can’t really answer that question – except to say that you almost definitely won’t become a Jedi if you don’t buy this item. Purchasing for an exorbitant price and placing it on your mantel piece as something to aspire to will no doubt take you small steps closer to your Jedi dream. Failing that you can tick “Jedi” on the next Australian census and your dreams will become a reality. You should still definitely buy it though. It will be a useful token of your progress to fully fledged Jediism – and a real seal of authenticity to ratify your quest. Thankyou for your question. I look forward to doing business with you. I will be selling more of my unopened Star Wars collection in coming days. Stay tuned. May the Force be somewhat closer to you.
Q: Does it include “The Force”? 11-Feb-09
A: No, the Force will cost extra. Please contact me upon completion of the auction to negotiate a rate. Being trained in use of the Force requires licensing and registration of your mind as a weapon under Australian law. Please check with your state’s criminal code to see if you can actually engage in this training in your home state.
Q: Just enquiring about local pickup?? 11-Feb-09
A: Local pick up is available.

February 12, 2009