Heading North

Hey y’all!

Just figured I’d mention that I’m going away tomorrow – heading up to Urunga (near Coffs Harbour) on the 7:15am train to see Mum for a while. It shall be very good indeed – I’m really looking forward to it! I even bought a book for the train trip – I Wouldn’t Start Here by Andrew Mueller. I started reading it last night, and it seems excellent so far.

Speaking of books, I finished The House of The Spirits by Isabel Allende last night (before starting my new book). I must say, it’s one of the best novels I have ever read. Not one of those can’t-put-down-till-you’ve-finished-it kind of novels (it actually took me a while to read), but definitely one that I’ll never forget. Towards the end I spent most of the time in (or close to) tears, but they varied from wonderfully happy tears to desperately sad tears. Someone wrote that this book is the perfect novel – and from what I’ve seen in my limited amount of reading, I don’t think they’re far wrong.

I took some photos after work tonight, hoping that I would manage to snap some good shots. However, I was yet again disappointed, as all my photos (and I took a LOT of them, because I was worried about the blur) were horribly blurry. There’s one or two that might pass if I fix them up a bit, but I’m doubtful even of that. I probably need to start taking pictures during the day, but I find night scenes to interesting! That, and I see lots of interesting things on my walk home from work – like a brilliant (almost full) moon amongst the skyscrapers of Sydney. Oh well, maybe next time!

I did maybe half an hour’s proper work today at work. There was just nothing to do most of the time, but that wasn’t our fault. Silly clients! So besides a few little jobs here and then for various people (taking screenshots, etc…), I didn’t really do anything productive (from Emotum’s point of view, anyway). That said, in between games of soccer and stuff on the Xbox, I actually learned quite a bit! I did some research on OpenMoko, an Open Source phone/PDA project that’s in development (and looking really awesome!), and leaned some more stuff about vmware (which we are testing out at work). So yeah, not a totally lost day!

Well, I guess I’ll see you next week! (Unless I somehow get the opportunity to blog when I’m in Urunga, although that is highly doubtful). I might even return with some pretty photos for grep * life > blog! You never know! ‘Til then!

Love James

Some Interesting Links

First up, a blog by Sam de Brito of All Men Are Liars. An interesting take on the differences between the sexes when it comes to breakups and divorce.

Next, a very interesting article on Slashdot revealing a new machine that acts as a giant microwave and can break down plastic and rubber back into diesel oil and combustible gas. Even more interesting, because I suggested this idea (of turning plastic back into oil) to my father years ago (in Primary School, even), but he was pretty skeptical about it.

One last thing – Randall Munroe of xkcd has been flying kites with cameras attached over Boston. Some interesting pictures there, as well as a funny prank that he played on some students a while back.

Enjoy!

Munich

I just watched the film Munich (with Eric Bana, directed by Steven Spielberg, etc), and I must say… that’s the most a movie has emotionally affected me in a long, long time. If anybody has seen it, that second last scene… The last flashback. Far out…

Overall, it was a fantastically well-made movie. I highly recommend it, although I wouldn’t advise it if you’re looking for a fun night. Not that kind of movie…

Hmm… Will have to ponder it a bit more.

Full-Time Work! (Very Temporarily)

Whew! Just finished four full days of work in a row! Was pretty tiring… Although that’s mostly my fault for staying up too late and then not getting enough sleep. Aside from that, though, it’s been excellent! I’ve really enjoyed it. It’s nice to be able to see what’s going on over a few days in a row, instead of coming in and taking a while to get my bearings. That, and I felt a lot more a part of the ‘team’. Not that I’m not usually, it’s just different when I’m there for a few days in a row. Anyway yeah, very good few days!

Other than that… Steve told his parents that he is gay! I know, isn’t it awesome? Congrats Steve!

Urgh, drunk people are so annoying sometimes. There are some very noisy ones in my apartment currently. They are making lots of noise, and it’s very noisy.

Can’t think of anything else to write en ce moment… Bye!

Storm/Cyclone Photos

I took some photos from the balcony at work today. Note the storminess and cyclonic winds.

(Full-size version here)

Oh, I also took a photo of one of the most confusing moments I’ve had at work – I had four PCs at my desk all at the same time, all doing different things and all with their own keyboards and mice (kept typing on the wrong thing, etc). Fun times!

(Full-size version here)

Just remember that these pictures were taking with no artistic intent – they’re purely to show a certain thing. So don’t pick ‘em .

The Storm Brings Good News

Apparently the storm last night didn’t cause as much damage as expected (not much at all, in fact), because it stayed far enough offshore. So, we’ll get some big swells in the next few days, but nothing too horrific. Interestingly enough, there was actually something positive to come out of it! Yes, I know, surprising, eh? Well, here it is, straight from smh.com.au:

Flooding has cut power to about 1,400 homes and businesses in Mosman, on Sydney’s lower North Shore, an Energy Australia spokeswoman says.

Lolz!

Thanks, and WATCH OUT!

The weekend and days following have been pretty busy. I mentioned my programming exam in my last blog, I think. After that, things kind of went downhill, although they’re up and positive again now. I won’t go into details, but I had a bit of an issue with something (hint: Imogen), and just want to thank Steve (for forcing the issue upon me, then and there – although it didn’t feel good, it needed to happen), Mollie (for giving me some insight into what was going on, despite the confusion she also caused), and Elaine (for helping me clear up the last few things, and understanding what was going on). Your help was seriously invaluable. Thanks so much!

Oh, I’d also like to thank Sydney Ferries for providing me (for a small fee) with a wonderful trip across the harbour to Manly (and back). It was much-needed relaxation, even though it was a bit cold on the beach, and quite dark by that time.

What else? Oh yeah, I had work today. It was wonderful, as usual. The people I work with are great, they’re heaps nice and are constantly making me laugh. And I will be working at least three days this week, probably four, because two of the other testers have exams and all that. So shall be good!

Now, I think I might go and do some shopping in preparation for the cyclone (well, cyclonesque storm) that is to hit Sydney in but a few hours. Winds of 125km/h or so are expected, so I might just stay indoors… And Brett (my boss) said that if the weather is too bad in the morning, it doesn’t matter if I turn up a bit late to work. No use injuring/killing myself. Nice to know, although it’ll probably have calmed down a bit by then. Hopefully so, anyway. I don’t think my poor umbrella would cope…

So, yeah… Shopping. Might watch a movie after that! Oh wait just a second. In the mail today, I got three CDs. I’ve had them on order from Amazon for ages, and they finally arrived. I think this *should* symbolise the end of my CD-buying spree for at least a few weeks, although there are a few albums that I really really want… But I have holidays to pay for! *Sigh*. Oh yeah – the albums are Sufjan Stevens – Illinois (a truly fantastic album – glad I finally actually own it! When I read through the booklet and stuff I couldn’t help but laugh… Sufjan is so awesome!), Broken Social Scene – You Forgot It In People (another wonderful album, again one that I’ve had for a while but not actually owned), and Peter Bjorn And John – Writer’s Block (I first heard these guys at work, and I can’t stop listening! Woo!). So some very nice additions to my collection!

Okay, I am actually going to do the shopping now, or I will actually get swept away by the cyclone, which would not be very fun at all! Goodbye, and good luck! (If you live in a NSW coastal area, anyway).

Programming is… Fun?

Recently I’ve been reading a book called Head First Java, one of a series of books teaching various computer-related things (I also read Head First HTML & CSS earlier this year). And I must say, they are the most wonderful way to learn something like a programming language, which can be horribly boring (thanks, Robert*). Today, I even managed to get excited about polymorphism. Yes, excited about a programming concept! Weird, eh? I guess that’s how these books work though… They’re not only (extremely) helpful, but fun too!

In other news, I bought a CD today – Wincing The Night Away by The Shins. I figured I’d better get hold of it, considering I’m seeing them in August. Oh yeah, I also had a programming exam this morning. I was pretty nervous about it, but all went fine in the end, and I think I did pretty okay! It meant I missed out on seeing the Dalai Lama, though… Oh well, wasn’t meant to be I guess . Well, no more Uni for the next six weeks! I just have to find something to fill it with… Hehe, I’ve got some plans up my sleeves (metaphorically).

*Programming Fundamentals lecturer at Uni

Meandering Through Life

As the title might suggest… Sometimes I feel like I’m just meandering through the process of life, neither here nor there… Floating, kind of. I don’t know, that sounds weird. I guess part of it’s due to my lack of a concrete direction at the moment, but that’s on purpose rather than a failure on my behalf to come up with something to head towards. I like just flowing with life, going wherever it takes me. I mean, sure I want to get through Uni and all that, but… I guess if it doesn’t end up happening, I won’t be all that sorry about it. I figure that I’ll end up where I’m meant to be, regardless. (That said, I have no intention of quitting Uni or anything – I’m currently loving every (well… almost every) moment of it).

This kind of philosophy extends to the fact that I hate to plan anything (sorry Steve). It’s not that I don’t like the process of planning, it’s just… I like doing things on the spur of the moment. My way of living is great for that at the moment – I have to turn up at work and should (and do) turn up at Uni, but other than that, I just tend to do what I want, when I want.

Sometimes I feel like I’m not really here… Like, I almost feel like I’m watching myself make my way through life. Not always, of course. In fact, most of the time that’s not the case at all. But… Occasionally. It’s rather strange.

Sometimes I think the only things that keep me in this world are Uni and work. Maybe it’s pretty lucky that I have them! Most of the rest of the time I seem to be off in another world, thinking, dreaming. I’m not sure if this is a good or bad thing. It means that I’m a lot more relaxed and happy a lot of the time, but… Maybe I should concentrate on the ‘real’ world a bit more?

The ‘other’ world is much more fun though. I think it’s actually just as real as this one. I mean, that premonition I had the other day? I wasn’t fully here then, yet it led to perfectly ‘real’ events. Very interesting indeed…

Oh yeah, Mum rang tonight, for the first time in a while. Was great to talk to her again. I’m heading up Urunga way (near Coffs Harbour) to see her in a couple of weeks, which will be lovely. The real reason I’m mentioning this, though, is that I wrote her an email last night, and realised just how much I’ve been missing her. She hasn’t got the email yet, as Internet access isn’t available where she is, but… It got me thinking about the reason she rang when she did. I mean, it’s entirely possible that she coincidentally decided to ring me the night after I sent her an email, but… There are other possibilities too. Like, she could’ve felt the urge to ring me because she ‘felt’ me missing her. That’s a pretty common thing for people to believe to happen, and I know for sure that I’ve had it happen to me.

However, I don’t think that it was the case this time, as Mum surely would’ve mentioned something. I have another theory behind it, but it’s too complicated (and strange) for a blog post, so I think I’ll leave it. In fact, I think it’s too complicated to tell anybody in any circumstances. Actually… Not complicated. Just… Difficult to explain.

Hmm, sorry if none of this really makes sense. Most of it was just random thoughts about random things. Other (parallel?) worlds, spirituality. You name it, I think about it. It’s fun to observe different patterns of behaviour and thoughts in myself and other people. You get to notice some really interesting things. And learn from them, I guess.

Well, I guess that’s enough rambling for one night. Might head off to bed! Goodnight

Kevin Rudd Appreciation Blog

From smh.com.au:

Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd says trade union leaders who have a problem with the way he governs if he is elected prime minister can go “jump in a lake”*.

How cool is that?! Not so much that he’s standing up to trade unions, but because he said they can go “jump in a lake”. Reminds me of Cherry from Cosi (“Go burn a cat!”). *Appreciate*.

*(Full quote: “I don’t particularly care who’s head of which individual trade union, my job if I’m elected prime minister of this country is to govern in the national interest, the national economic interest, and if an individual trade union leader has a problem with that, well frankly they can jump in a lake.”)