tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232308132024-03-13T10:25:27.193+08:00The Truancy ReportTruanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07464445916859825899noreply@blogger.comBlogger85125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23230813.post-2145726688900449662007-05-31T10:59:00.000+08:002007-05-31T11:34:20.808+08:00Awareness & early detectionSome stuff in the world seems to pass you by as if it will never apply to yourself, only to other people.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT5uUGy7yC1f75sOMs1baF9Rs-I2oZW433wfD0FWox8pJFVtaIsmg69ZqwashZPyK7502eGcGj7pdIXWt39bnaTB36ITLkUSGVr9Q_B6N2L89BuR24aST5wABETfPjw5JkesK7/s1600-h/ribbon.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT5uUGy7yC1f75sOMs1baF9Rs-I2oZW433wfD0FWox8pJFVtaIsmg69ZqwashZPyK7502eGcGj7pdIXWt39bnaTB36ITLkUSGVr9Q_B6N2L89BuR24aST5wABETfPjw5JkesK7/s400/ribbon.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070554697798814354" border="0" /></a>Breast Cancer is a disease of epidemic proportions, but in the last decade or so a great deal of progress has been made in the treatment of it.<br />The key is to be aware of the risks, detection and tests out there. It really is something that is very beatable if picked up early.<br /><br />Awareness. Not just women, but their men too. Everyone needs to educate themselves a little bit more than from what they <span style="font-style: italic;">think</span> they know.<br /><br />Take some time <span style="font-style: italic;">now</span> to read this site <a href="http://breastcancer.org/">BreastCancer.org</a>. Be aware of what to look for. Get regular checks. Get anything odd checked early. Get second opinions and be suspicious of anything until it's cleared.<br /><br />Awareness will save a life.Truanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07464445916859825899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23230813.post-23784821078730309762007-05-09T14:00:00.000+08:002007-05-09T14:03:04.274+08:00Sometimes people overlook simplicityHere is an interesting theory about the construction of Stonehenge. Makes a lot of sense to me.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/lRRDzFROMx0"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/lRRDzFROMx0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>Truanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07464445916859825899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23230813.post-88315188526137512652007-05-09T11:39:00.000+08:002007-05-09T11:48:48.275+08:00AutoCAD ArtAfter much hassle, I am finally teaching myself AutoCAD Architectural desktop. Wow. Sometimes I come across something that is like an extension of my mind.<br /><br />Apart from all the cool building design I am doing right now, it seems some people are right into using Autocad 3D extensions to do art. How good can it possibly be?<br /><br />Check out this picture (click on it to go to full size):<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHoCu8GypvkHeYFJhpFmvhTUfw8Cz8arcqGhafQC5Cd4XveMApafYDamR4GLjXSTblHXMNs7DKPC1wiPVkuFBSoBjScJD6Lq1-2kCeRwso-3ZhJrl6zsJdTIhttjS4UMFi8mBb/s1600-h/Table_close04.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHoCu8GypvkHeYFJhpFmvhTUfw8Cz8arcqGhafQC5Cd4XveMApafYDamR4GLjXSTblHXMNs7DKPC1wiPVkuFBSoBjScJD6Lq1-2kCeRwso-3ZhJrl6zsJdTIhttjS4UMFi8mBb/s400/Table_close04.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5062402108027012978" border="0" /></a><br />Here is the link to it, and others: <a href="http://www.creative-3d.net/GalleryDisplay.cfm?ID=19908" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">http://www.creative-3d.net<wbr>/GalleryDisplay.cfm?ID=19908</a><br /><br />Update: I just noticed how weird that pic looks due to the wide angle perspective. The vertical edges look like they are tilting in. Interesting.Truanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07464445916859825899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23230813.post-36972519076510826712007-05-03T15:17:00.000+08:002007-05-03T16:13:43.502+08:00BamboozledIt amazing what you come across online when you are <s>mindlessly bored and randomly clicking shit</s> doing productive research. Today I was looking for a pic of a bamboo forest for the new incarnation of <a href="http://frashcards.com/">frashcards.com</a> (yes it's a real domain - I bought it last night for $8.95, what a bargain).<br />Anyway, I should get to what I discovered....<br /><br />This site: <a href="http://www.bmeres.com/bambooframe.htm">http://www.bmeres.com/bambooframe.htm</a> which is about a bike a guy made out of bamboo. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhERFH4gtVPudrViGYy3uWvBQbxhQ_pRpfKOhdk7Bgy_YDLn0rSJ0WiyymcSP3d1gDcyeZTY5tA1UDQL3GOFkW7KXV8CgK84ySYtY86J6yi6-Hb0U872ychltaPqwyHRwE1TVjy/s1600-h/bamboo4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhERFH4gtVPudrViGYy3uWvBQbxhQ_pRpfKOhdk7Bgy_YDLn0rSJ0WiyymcSP3d1gDcyeZTY5tA1UDQL3GOFkW7KXV8CgK84ySYtY86J6yi6-Hb0U872ychltaPqwyHRwE1TVjy/s400/bamboo4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5060231676368750434" border="0" /></a>Looks pretty neat. He's got a review of how it performed over a whole year. Very nice job.Truanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07464445916859825899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23230813.post-91772297754441029142007-05-02T11:28:00.000+08:002007-05-02T11:31:50.702+08:00Web 2.0 ... The Machine is Us/ing Us<object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/6gmP4nk0EOE"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/6gmP4nk0EOE" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>Truanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07464445916859825899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23230813.post-57341314591718400492007-04-27T09:38:00.000+08:002007-04-28T00:34:39.202+08:00Planet GmailWARNING: Geek Alert<br /><br />What is strange about this screen shot from my gmail inbox?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPItu9DocCklSz-BVeawD-4i-ZPMvZrgo9o07O4WeMwW4CZpwiWCV8phQqY_VnXs27W-hM4HYW6lxSl5jn2JeguTZVjlgn4ROznxauHS4FQlsRar0mr-Zcu-f2kBfSqGcRy26a/s1600-h/gmail+archive.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPItu9DocCklSz-BVeawD-4i-ZPMvZrgo9o07O4WeMwW4CZpwiWCV8phQqY_VnXs27W-hM4HYW6lxSl5jn2JeguTZVjlgn4ROznxauHS4FQlsRar0mr-Zcu-f2kBfSqGcRy26a/s400/gmail+archive.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5057917423435614034" border="0" /></a>The email dates are old. Really old. In fact so old they are from <span style="font-style: italic;">before Gmail was even invented</span>.<br /><br />As mentioned earlier, after a bit of searching, I have found out a way to put all my old Microsoft Outlook based emails on Gmail - but not only that, have them stored with the <span style="font-weight: bold;">correct delivery date and original sender information</span>.<br /><br />Some people may not care about the significance of this, some will be put to sleep by it, others will find this information ecstaticly exciting and useful. For those 3 people out there, here are the steps to do it...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1. Use Outlook to open your old mail file</span> (if you use Outlook Express, skip this step)<br /><br />What you need to do here is have a clean out and a tidy up, if you haven't already. In Gmail, you will have to adopt the 'search not sort' mentality, so any folders in Outlook will need to be replaced with labels in Gmail. (But that's ok. I Gmail a message can have more than one label. With folders, it's either in the folder or not.)<br />Once all clean and tidy, you can close Outlook. For good.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2. Open Outlook Express<br /><br /></span>Use the menu to import your mail from MS Outlook. It's a reasonbly fast process, and may seem unnecessary, but later steps work faster if Outlook mail is converted to Outlook Express.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">3. Install a local host mail server<br /><br /></span>Yeah yeah, I know, this kinda freaked me out too, having never done this stuff before. But, it was pretty easy using <a href="http://macallan.club.fr/MMS/index.html">Macallan Mail Server </a>(free). Make sure you go into the users tab and create yourself a mailbox, and assign a password. Takes a few minutes to do this whole step (seriously).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">4. Install Mozilla Thunderbird<br /><br /></span>From the people who brought you Firefox, here is <a href="http://www.mozilla.com/thunderbird/">Thunderbird, a free email front end</a>. Once you have Thunderbird installed, you need to download the <a href="http://mailredirect.mozdev.org/installation.html">redirect extension</a>. Install the extension to Thunderbird by going Tools>Add-ons>Install, and browse to the redirect extension and install it.<br />You then need to add the mailbox you created on the mail server to Thunderbird in the accounts setup.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">5. Import Outlook Express emails into Thunderbird<br /><br /></span>This is pretty straight forward. Tools>import>outlook express. Takes a short time to process.<br />Pretty soon we will be uploading emails from thruderbird to the web.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">6. Create a temporary Gmail account<br /></span><br />If you upload your emails directly to you main Gmail, you'll find the 'received date' will be wrong. It will be the actual date (i.e. now) your main Gmail received it.<br />But, if you upload your emails to a temporary Gmail account, and then use <a href="https://mail.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?ctx=gmail&hl=en&answer=21288">Gmail's Mailfetcher</a> to POP them over to your main Gmail account then miraculously the dates are corrected back to the original.<br />So, create a temporary Gmail account, and in settings>Forwarding and POP: enable POP for all mail. Also, select the 'delete Gmail's copy' so it's really easy to see if there are any remaining emails in the temporary account that need to be retrieved by the main Gmail.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">7. Upload old email<br /><br /></span>Go into Thunderbird and select a folder to upload. (It's highly recommended to upload your old emails in folder lots so you can easily create lables for them in Gmail once they have arrived. Then repeat the upload process for another folder.)<br />Anyway, open a folder, and select ALL emails in it. Choose Message>Redirect and enter the email address of your <span style="font-style: italic;">temporary</span> Gmail account.<br />I'd suggest you practice with a small folder first.<br />The redirect(upload) step may take some time, depending on your upstream speed on your internet connection. It's the sort of thing you can let churn away while you sleep.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">8. Retrieve old email from temporary Gmail account to main Gmail account.<br /><br /></span>If you log into your temporary gmail account, you should see your uploaded emails (give it time, of course). Go into your spam folder and select>ALL and hit the "Not Spam" button. For some reason about half of my uploaded mail ended up in the spam folder (maybe the old date confuses it or something).<br />Once you have all your uploaded emails (remember just one folder worth) in your temporary Gmail account inbox, we can do the last part.<br /><br />Log into your main Gmail account (I find it easier to use different browsers for each, like IE for my temp gmail and Firefox for my main gmail) .<br />Go to settings>accounts>get email from other accounts.<br />Click Add account, and put in your temporary gmail account details here. You should just need to add the login ID and password, and leave the other settings as they are.<br />Click save settings.<br /><br />Now, your main Gmail account will periodically check your temporary Gmail account and retrieve any messages from the inbox. Generally, it will do it in 200 email batches every so often, but you can go into the accounts page and force more checks.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">9. Tidy up and label Old emails<br /><br /></span>Your main gmail account will be receiving the old emails in it's inbox. Once again, you have to also check your spam folder and move those emails to inbox also. (it pays to empty out your spam folders before doing all this)<br />Once done, you will see <span style="font-weight: bold;">Inbox(125)</span> or similar in bold, indicating unread emails, but this time your inbox has been c<span style="font-style: italic;">orrectly sorted with the original sent date</span>. This means you have to click on 'oldest' to see them.<br />An easier way is to use 'search options' up the top, and choose 'Search: unread' and hit search without any other criteria. Select ALL messages, and then the 'Choose ALL'<br />Label these mails according to the folder name. Then select 'mark as read', and then select 'None'.<br /><br />That's it. If you now go and have a look, your old emails are now in Gmail in the exact format they would be if they were sent there years ago. The dates are correct, as is the sender info etc etc.<br /><br />Repeat steps 7-9 with each folder, allowing enough time for the emails to travel to their destination before continuing.<br />Yes it takes time, but once each folder is set going you can leave it.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Gmail Archive<br /><br /></span>Once you have got all your old emails in your main gmail account, you may like to archive them. You can select whichever mails you would like to archive using lables or searchs, and then hit the 'Archive' button.<br />This will remove them from the main inbox view, but they will still be searchable. If you need to browse thru archived mail, just select 'All Mail' on the left.<br /><br />If you are super paranoid, you can periodically use a Gmail archive utility to download a copy of your mails to burn to a DVD....or you can use the POP facility to download to a HDD.....or you can use the mail fetcher to put a copy onto an second 'archive' gmail. (just select 'leave a copy in my inbox' on your mail gmail...ha)<br /><br />Enjoy.<br /><br />This post was only made possible with information I found <a href="http://www.wikihow.com/Import-Archived-Outlook-Email-Into-GMail-Using-GML">here</a> (the mail server thing),<br />and <a href="http://www.zoliblog.com/blog/_archives/2007/3/28/2840555.html">here</a>(the temporary gmail account concept)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>Truanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07464445916859825899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23230813.post-24787811761381713342007-04-27T09:09:00.000+08:002007-04-28T00:35:39.941+08:00SafekeepingWarning: GEEK ALERT<br /><br />My mission is to get ALL on the stuff I care about OFF my computer.<br /><br />I am in the process of putting all my MP3s, Photos and Videos (mainly AVI copies of my DVDs) onto Network Storage device (AKA Portable hard drive hooked up to my home network). That way, PC's on my home network(up to 4: [1 decent one,1 semi decent, 2 shitters] in various places now) can access that stuff, which is pretty handy (think: choosing a DVD to watch in bed on the laptop wirelessly, accessing the whole MP3 library wirelessly, sharing some photos on the TV etc etc - all at the same time.)<br />So that is the media taken care of. What about emails? MS Outlook famously sucks at not easily allowing multiple machines to access a single Outlook account. I decided that online mail WOULD allow multi location (simultaneously if needed)access to a common email account, which is just one reason I have converted the whole Truant house to Gmail.<br />I have been raving about Gmail for a while and after 18 months or so of using it I am convinced that it's actually safer to keep stuff like emails and documents online as opposed to locally on your own computer. The main advantages for me is now I don't need to worry about backing up my data if/when my PC crashes. Sure, I could run RAID and be more diligent with backing up stuff, but after a while having DVDs of data sitting around isn't exactly ideal either - you could lose it, or it could fall into the wrong hands. Anyway, I digress.<br />But what about the OLD outlook emails? Wouldn't it be nice to put them on my Gmail so I can really get rid of all that old stored stuff?<br /><br />After a bit of investigation <a href="http://truancyreport.blogspot.com/2007/04/planet-gmail.html">I found out how to do it</a>. I mean properly, not some half assed 'forwarding' type of solution.Truanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07464445916859825899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23230813.post-370021226088538072007-03-30T08:50:00.000+08:002007-03-30T09:04:57.563+08:00Scroobius Pip vs Dan Le SacHere are 2 videos of the same track.<br />First one is the official music video, which features some really clever, but subtle, video tricks.<br /><br /><object height="350" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/yoN6XfyQsr4"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/yoN6XfyQsr4" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="350" width="425"></object><br /><br />The second one is the live version. Check out Dan Le Sac on his Apple Notebook with some other gadget attached to it. Sounds pretty cool.<br /><br /><object height="350" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ua_KyMtSoWM"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ua_KyMtSoWM" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="350" width="425"></object>Truanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07464445916859825899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23230813.post-26174666870313279702007-03-30T08:43:00.000+08:002007-03-30T08:46:12.463+08:00Grey MatterSquare A and Square B are the same shade of grey. They <span style="font-style: italic;">ARE</span>.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD15WZEzJP8EXh0jWj8XDH36ud9AHLFjjqIpd9VIK3NPzWTz9OoeAxOP0XDScB40SjW2EAiMuDaLcb1p5wpZEQqCMRBXBV_nhHH3TJuwnLYyJyCUsPTVP0rhMjlCojys1P7pK8/s1600-h/illusion.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD15WZEzJP8EXh0jWj8XDH36ud9AHLFjjqIpd9VIK3NPzWTz9OoeAxOP0XDScB40SjW2EAiMuDaLcb1p5wpZEQqCMRBXBV_nhHH3TJuwnLYyJyCUsPTVP0rhMjlCojys1P7pK8/s400/illusion.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047511888736118882" border="0" /></a>Check out the proof and other brilliant illusions <a href="http://web.mit.edu/persci/people/adelson/checkershadow_illusion.html?gray">here</a>.Truanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07464445916859825899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23230813.post-56300427617651266242007-03-30T08:23:00.000+08:002007-03-30T08:40:18.728+08:00Studley by name, Studley by natureBack in the mid 90s, I remember picking up a magazine at the military dentist. Airforce magazine or flight international or something like that. Inside was a picture I stared and stared at. It was an advertisement for <span style="font-style: italic;">something</span>, I can't remember what - but I never forgot the image.<br />It's been well over 10 years and I was chatting to my mate Irish Stu about this tool chest I once saw, and how impressive it was.<br />Well, after describing it to Stu, I figured I do my darndest to find it on the web.<br />Using <a href="http://image.google.com">image google</a>, I was surprised to find it within minutes.....so here it is:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-LKzCQyAeBRPypIPBpO9s4fVmv4cj4kzSb18LKmYLJYEd_lvQBhlFid_ATYvABhKLJQeR4el22ogMeYKmZiEqqeWThPzwc-saWDrJgGo4mfbETzpFAKwVdUSelWkYxZTASYXO/s1600-h/chest.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-LKzCQyAeBRPypIPBpO9s4fVmv4cj4kzSb18LKmYLJYEd_lvQBhlFid_ATYvABhKLJQeR4el22ogMeYKmZiEqqeWThPzwc-saWDrJgGo4mfbETzpFAKwVdUSelWkYxZTASYXO/s320/chest.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047508890848946242" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Studley Tool Chest</span><br /><br /><span class="teaser"> Massachusetts piano maker Henry Studley built his magnificent tool chest over the course of a 30-year career at the Poole Piano Company. The chest liv</span><span class="teaser">ed on the wall near his workbench, and he worked on it regularly, making changes and adding new tools as he acquired them. Using ebony, mother-of-pearl, ivory, rosewood, and mahogany -- all materials used in the manufacture of pianos -- he refined the chest to the point that now, more than 80 years after his death, it remains in a class </span><span class="teaser">of its own.<br /></span><span class="teaser"><p>Considering how many tools it holds, the famous chest is really quite small; when closed, it is just 9 in. deep, 39 in. high, and just more than 18 in. wide. Yet it houses so many tools -- some 300 -- so densely packed that three strong men strain to lift it.<span><span class="teaser"><span><span class="teaser"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0SfO7hFqbtEDfCBkYLRlhEZUNdTJT1bUodkp2VwZGy2ixZOyz9JgvIgjp7GF-DTWKK4UdTgQmMSyxAxFyJq4FBs2OcOQgQamzNIIVJf-0uWMtvs6JZUY2AKCkgY00MvdcW3QG/s1600-h/chest2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0SfO7hFqbtEDfCBkYLRlhEZUNdTJT1bUodkp2VwZGy2ixZOyz9JgvIgjp7GF-DTWKK4UdTgQmMSyxAxFyJq4FBs2OcOQgQamzNIIVJf-0uWMtvs6JZUY2AKCkgY00MvdcW3QG/s320/chest2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5047509530799073362" border="0" /></a></span></span></span></span></p><p>For every tool, Studley fashioned a holder to keep it in place and to showcase it. Miniature wrenches, handmade saws, and some still unidentified piano-making tools each have intricate inlaid holders. Tiny clasps rotate out of the way so a tool can be removed. In places the clearances are so tight that the tools nearly touch. The chest, which hangs on ledgers secured to a wall, folds closed like a book. And as the chest is closed, tools protruding from the left side nestle into spaces between tools on the right side. Amazingly, despite being so densely packed, the tools are all easily accessible.</p><p>Studley was well into his 80s when he retired from the piano company. Before he died in 1925, Studley gave the tool chest to a friend. That man's grandson, Peter Hardwick, loaned the chest to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. in the late 1980s and later sold it to a private collector in the Midwest. That owner again sold the tool chest to another private collector, where it now resides.</p></span><a href="http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/ProjectsAndDesign/ProjectsAndDesignArticle.aspx?id=27038">Fine Woodworking Magazine Article (incl High Res downloads)</a>Truanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07464445916859825899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23230813.post-23751631578203044372007-03-08T07:33:00.000+08:002007-03-08T08:38:37.936+08:00The Plywood TreeHere is an interesting site detailing what I guess you'd call, well I dunno what.<br /><a href="http://plywoodtree.grographics.com/"><br />http://plywoodtree.grographics.com/</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhook9STICf2emS7U79laGdBVQ9mgBfEtviztbK7Hdi4dmRH8YP8_8vZpqR7QOAUP0Txv95bTnTmDYewa9lm358EKbTUWQefCAvzRTRfAdr1rKAwfrzhe_NKBFTplhjLgptIDb_/s1600-h/tree.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhook9STICf2emS7U79laGdBVQ9mgBfEtviztbK7Hdi4dmRH8YP8_8vZpqR7QOAUP0Txv95bTnTmDYewa9lm358EKbTUWQefCAvzRTRfAdr1rKAwfrzhe_NKBFTplhjLgptIDb_/s320/tree.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5039330905919906866" border="0" /></a><br />Basically, a guy creates a tree out of plywood, and then chops it down, recycles it into a sheet of plywood and then returns it to Home Depot for a refund. Some kind of statement I guess.<br /><br />Personally, I really like the tree he made, and it is a shame to chop it down after all that work.Truanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07464445916859825899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23230813.post-64125842696707040312007-03-02T09:56:00.000+08:002007-03-02T10:00:13.066+08:00Flying at Apo IslandHere is a short video I shot when we were in the Philippines for a dive trip a few weeks back.<br /><br /><object height="350" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Yx2Gbwv9dwA"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Yx2Gbwv9dwA" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="350" width="425"></object>Truanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07464445916859825899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23230813.post-59315672227835127002007-01-22T15:59:00.000+08:002007-01-22T16:39:30.237+08:00How to: Picture Signature in GmailGmail seems to be the wonder email program, for me at least.<br /><br />I like the fact that it's online, so it's automatically backed up/archived online without me ever having to stress out about my pc crashing or losing contacts etc etc.<br />It's also great for being able to log into from multiple machines anywhere on earth and do emailing (try doing that with Outlook)<br />It just gets better and better, but there is one thing that Gmail has been lacking since day one: HTML authoring or embedded picture signatures. Or HAS it been lacking????<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjErmr79GNGttIkm1Nb2dUikV95W1XRBGavgZnRg-C0J_jIKZoBhAm5uOYg0b_yyz_3vOqm3o8obmHtiQxNCpQLY93HipMu2igbtx8hS7Gesy7f7aTWACtIEP6LjCvhGQ21DH_1/s1600-h/sig.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjErmr79GNGttIkm1Nb2dUikV95W1XRBGavgZnRg-C0J_jIKZoBhAm5uOYg0b_yyz_3vOqm3o8obmHtiQxNCpQLY93HipMu2igbtx8hS7Gesy7f7aTWACtIEP6LjCvhGQ21DH_1/s320/sig.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5022770247187386722" border="0" /></a><br />So, here is the solution:<br /><br />Firstly the set up.<br />1. Host a picture online. Make sure it isn't too big and host it at photobucket or <a href="http://imageshack.us/">imageshack</a> or flickr etc, or put it on your own domain somewhere<br /><br />2. Use a text editor such as notepad or wordpad (or a WYSIWYG editor like Dreamweaver, front page or Google Page Creator) to create an html file.<br />If you have never done that before, in XP go: start>programs>Accessories>Notepad<br /><br />Put this code into the editor:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik00dCSG5uWAT_JfVyeF5RJt-WUXpjfXr2JfJdbzHoE4I1Dd9xAkDEK_XCeuFyL2kbvxqSI_Eo7cOTxPc82wgrkPssD-I-SNsM4rardkiRYnaUXz9B3hUSWKN2RXr5X8VE7lDi/s1600-h/sig2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik00dCSG5uWAT_JfVyeF5RJt-WUXpjfXr2JfJdbzHoE4I1Dd9xAkDEK_XCeuFyL2kbvxqSI_Eo7cOTxPc82wgrkPssD-I-SNsM4rardkiRYnaUXz9B3hUSWKN2RXr5X8VE7lDi/s320/sig2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5022771527087640946" border="0" /></a><br />Then save the file to your desktop as "my_signature_file.html"<br /><br />How to use it?<br />Once you have this file, whenever you want to embed this signature pic to a new email, just open the file, and use your mouse to select and drag the picture over to your new gmail window.<br />Another way is to open the file then ctrl-A (or edit>select all), then ctrl-C (or edit>copy) and then go to your gmail window and ctrl-V (or edit>paste)<br /><br />That's it. Oh by the way, if you want to include some text in the html file along with the picture, that is not a problem and it will all come over together.<br /><br />Wanna know a dirty little secret? You can also drag ANY image from ANY website. How about THAT!!Truanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07464445916859825899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23230813.post-6133200532020292972007-01-19T12:21:00.000+08:002007-01-19T12:35:19.164+08:00Living HomesWow. It's not that often that a website blows me.....away, but here it is: <a href="http://www1.livinghomes.net/primer.html">Living Homes.net</a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqKeWDNF4VAEnZCpU0tPOTb-Tir_YkflSfVO-Y9tpsNIJZE4NUvJRfAhvSMMHNBIwvT4JZc4SjpZr0Acw3c0BrheV8kheqxI0f4PLJdmZbJeFurJUp_OpIbpFXp42qmsKnpIql/s1600-h/livinghomes.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqKeWDNF4VAEnZCpU0tPOTb-Tir_YkflSfVO-Y9tpsNIJZE4NUvJRfAhvSMMHNBIwvT4JZc4SjpZr0Acw3c0BrheV8kheqxI0f4PLJdmZbJeFurJUp_OpIbpFXp42qmsKnpIql/s320/livinghomes.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5021594233602134354" border="0" /></a>It's another modular building company, but as you'll see these guys are hitting it <span style="font-style: italic;">hard</span>. Serious eco responsibility theme going on here. This is architecture, design and technology blended together perfectly. Awesome.<br /><br />Go and check out that website tho, seriously. It's really cool. The <a href="http://www1.livinghomes.net/primer.html">front page</a> is made up of timelapsed sequences showing the house through out the day.<br />There is a <a href="http://www1.livinghomes.net/viewStory.html?id=5">video showing a cool time lapse sequence of the house being erected on the site in 8 hrs</a>.<br /><br />It worth having a poke around at other things, particularly <a href="http://www1.livinghomes.net/tour.html">take the tour</a>.<br /><br /><a href="http://livinghomes.net/">LivingHomes.net</a>Truanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07464445916859825899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23230813.post-27690019366813365362007-01-18T16:21:00.000+08:002007-01-18T16:28:23.474+08:00Trailer Trash<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXRi4_eWFTLI15Gy5g2GT0dTkCk_rRsEaOpEuq1gYPLpjNofFW7EgqmjCkHp372uwLGjLXUxsbxmuWb-zO36zDUydWYZFyDENi5PsZqrILwLW7beFPWp1srEbuNxQpVsa-t9LR/s1600-h/dtbr1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXRi4_eWFTLI15Gy5g2GT0dTkCk_rRsEaOpEuq1gYPLpjNofFW7EgqmjCkHp372uwLGjLXUxsbxmuWb-zO36zDUydWYZFyDENi5PsZqrILwLW7beFPWp1srEbuNxQpVsa-t9LR/s320/dtbr1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5021283844905586994" border="0" /></a>I like retro caravans, and mark my words they <span style="font-style: italic;">will</span> make a comeback. Vintage caravans are where it's at.<br /><br />Anyway, I came across <a href="http://www.desertteardrops.com/">this interesting site</a> that is all about making you own retro travel trailer. $60 USD gets you all the plans and info you need to make your own caravan.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEcBECbgNTo7ipv38WSLUNv7dEJeB0El39P0H6A3qcyDp1kEMGUXkOtiAD7OT4TADelkAWdw_655zwrXgEMPWFSo_Tkwl3iWpLliuca90trXT_xYCR3OZoq4lzGtAgxNhOl_WZ/s1600-h/rtt.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEcBECbgNTo7ipv38WSLUNv7dEJeB0El39P0H6A3qcyDp1kEMGUXkOtiAD7OT4TADelkAWdw_655zwrXgEMPWFSo_Tkwl3iWpLliuca90trXT_xYCR3OZoq4lzGtAgxNhOl_WZ/s320/rtt.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5021284046769049922" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.desertteardrops.com/">http://www.desertteardrops.com/</a>Truanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07464445916859825899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23230813.post-80310341714651295612007-01-17T15:32:00.000+08:002007-01-17T21:48:51.086+08:00Plug + Play Construction<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTFXqKGY2rm_l4hpzWFGDNkSpM8dc4iwmNUdd5gLANq0voKnzDHduVQe9hl7MuwW84PC3JcQ5AT3ZCYpnoxxic6wbXWNQI9eCqrw8vk6mp6qq7wvfXroAHtvIg7IplmQJHFVK9/s1600-h/p_lobl_8.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTFXqKGY2rm_l4hpzWFGDNkSpM8dc4iwmNUdd5gLANq0voKnzDHduVQe9hl7MuwW84PC3JcQ5AT3ZCYpnoxxic6wbXWNQI9eCqrw8vk6mp6qq7wvfXroAHtvIg7IplmQJHFVK9/s320/p_lobl_8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5020899217699328290" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/15.01/home1.html">This interesting article in wired magazine</a> reminds me of something I have thought about for years: Modular housing. The concept itself isn't new, but previously it's been done only to a certain level.<br /><br />This "Loblolly" house by <a href="http://www.kierantimberlake.com/featured_projects/loblolly_11.html">kierantimberlake.com</a> is a prototype of a true plug and play house which incorporates wiring, communications, plumbing, heating etc into the wall, floor and roof modules.<br /><br /><strong>"THE MOST EFFICIENT WAY</strong> to construct a house is to build it in a factory. This reduces a home's "embodied energy" – the amount of power expended in its fabrication and construction. And conventional homebuilding is dirty work. From the fuel used by commuting workers to onsite diesel generators, the construction and operation of homes and other structures generates 40 to 50 percent of all the greenhouse gases in the US, according to the US Energy Information Administration."<br /><br /><a href="http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/15.01/home1.html">Wired Magazine Article</a><br /><a href="http://www.kierantimberlake.com/featured_projects/loblolly_11.html">Loblolly House homepage</a>Truanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07464445916859825899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23230813.post-47478139752090328102007-01-17T15:17:00.000+08:002007-01-17T15:26:08.814+08:00Juxtaposed: ReligionAs far as Art goes, I quite like this....<br /><br />5,084,000,000 people 5,360 pages 3,700 years 243 countries 7 books 1 shelf<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEsT0qA_aE1B2imJEg-IDloDHi3TzF-n8pDgv3AWdtJv2AEjpE6eH00080_IlQhx6XpaL3OlqUokv3top4BE5B8PvwzZOPhzmmbFFYgN1fOg1WcQmlqYIgGVxzyVC2z-6dD9hA/s1600-h/mike_maaike_juxtaposed.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEsT0qA_aE1B2imJEg-IDloDHi3TzF-n8pDgv3AWdtJv2AEjpE6eH00080_IlQhx6XpaL3OlqUokv3top4BE5B8PvwzZOPhzmmbFFYgN1fOg1WcQmlqYIgGVxzyVC2z-6dD9hA/s320/mike_maaike_juxtaposed.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5020895996473856242" border="0" /></a><br />San Francisco designers <a href="http://www.mikeandmaaike.com/" target="_blank"><b>Mike and Maaike</b></a> have created JUXTAPOSED:Religion the first in a series of Juxtaposed curated bookshelves for <a href="http://www.blankblank.net/">blankblank</a>.<br />“For the first time, the world’s most influential religious texts are brought together and presented on the same level, their coexistence acknowledged and celebrated.”<br />(I don't agree with that emotional fluff, but I like the resulting art)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVGpzYD70ETzQHAzfS6bzFCGbL1F1Q5FB4vcGEQmK0JL9ltNjPCnWb2QPvmApbhk-TDL2o0yfsm4EOdcOD8VQTo42bUC8K77ZkCSnOUf3ESToyRR9Rq1A36b8sziLg09xRcXcb/s1600-h/blankblank_juxtaposed.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVGpzYD70ETzQHAzfS6bzFCGbL1F1Q5FB4vcGEQmK0JL9ltNjPCnWb2QPvmApbhk-TDL2o0yfsm4EOdcOD8VQTo42bUC8K77ZkCSnOUf3ESToyRR9Rq1A36b8sziLg09xRcXcb/s320/blankblank_juxtaposed.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5020896236992024834" border="0" /></a>The shelf is made of reclaimed hardwood and is offered in a limited edition of 50.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6TWw88jJKcX8o2qXEwfNEM-qr5IkBuLhoqzmCdNh1T8BRlnZ4oTnGxQwMeieqWkCyKG9H72ix4OQ1ESUXptdoyhYASzP-XpsXj9t8f_hUxkJxYoOycBDyX2IhbzvpzMT4DqKf/s1600-h/blankblank_juxtaposed_2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6TWw88jJKcX8o2qXEwfNEM-qr5IkBuLhoqzmCdNh1T8BRlnZ4oTnGxQwMeieqWkCyKG9H72ix4OQ1ESUXptdoyhYASzP-XpsXj9t8f_hUxkJxYoOycBDyX2IhbzvpzMT4DqKf/s320/blankblank_juxtaposed_2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5020896421675618578" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.mikeandmaaike.com/">mikeandmaaike.com</a><br /><a href="http://blankblank.net/">blankblank.net</a>Truanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07464445916859825899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23230813.post-43276015265254187282007-01-17T14:52:00.000+08:002007-01-17T15:27:36.876+08:00Sketch FurnitureThis year I am going to be busy, so I will write less, but post more. Mainly interesting things I find online.<br /><br />First up is <a href="http://www.frontdesign.se/sketchfurniture/">Sketch Furniture</a>.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9wgjFgkrjMYBsUalxcFiYEfudgEPW6X29Xn_o4nWkfAmw0Sb0_x-VIU_fgEnYoEq-55j4VyzDDD_vzaEeDkrFUVfj2-f9FPNuQe1zAlJI7dXL9tX95xCxuhEViDTiYoH2blj4/s1600-h/Process_small.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9wgjFgkrjMYBsUalxcFiYEfudgEPW6X29Xn_o4nWkfAmw0Sb0_x-VIU_fgEnYoEq-55j4VyzDDD_vzaEeDkrFUVfj2-f9FPNuQe1zAlJI7dXL9tX95xCxuhEViDTiYoH2blj4/s320/Process_small.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5020889687166898386" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The four FRONT members have developed a method to materialise free hand sketches. They make it possible by using a unique method where two advanced techniques are combined.<br /><br />Pen strokes made in the air are recorded with Motion Capture and become 3D digital files; these are then materialised through Rapid Prototyping into real pieces of furniture.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5oemHIeANv7bf3RE27gC1KUYfun7qnH31XOBSHSgpb9quyRt9RzbbTPDrkdM3jT2Jqpgu23PA01k1OYFo3PpqQdnJtXjmdzq3tGmLiMCOpcywDMSXWkISIT3fSoyQFemCJi7U/s1600-h/Mobler_small.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5oemHIeANv7bf3RE27gC1KUYfun7qnH31XOBSHSgpb9quyRt9RzbbTPDrkdM3jT2Jqpgu23PA01k1OYFo3PpqQdnJtXjmdzq3tGmLiMCOpcywDMSXWkISIT3fSoyQFemCJi7U/s320/Mobler_small.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5020889833195786466" border="0" /></a><br />I really like the concept. Just not sure I'd like to look at a scribble in my living room for any length of time. (unfortunately, the youtube video is no longer up - that would have been interesting I am sure)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.frontdesign.se/sketchfurniture/">http://www.frontdesign.se/sketchfurniture/</a>Truanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07464445916859825899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23230813.post-23492458217369487132007-01-17T14:48:00.000+08:002007-01-17T14:52:08.007+08:00Welcome 2007Wow, it's been a hectic last 4-5 weeks or so, and now that I am back at work I will hopefully be able to <s>do some more blogging</s> get back to a normal sort of routine.<br /><br />Here goes.Truanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07464445916859825899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23230813.post-90937899722523823002006-12-26T14:16:00.000+08:002006-12-26T14:35:43.969+08:00Another Perfect Day in ParadiseOne time camping around 2000 in Arrowtown (near Queenstown NZ), I heard a scottist tourist at the next site over come out of his tent and loudly proclaim "Ahhhh....another payfact dey in paradiyce".<br />At the time I had only left NZ's shores once, to go to Fiji for a holiday, but as I was about to head away from NZ for at least a few years, what the scotsman said got me thinking. It got me thinking that maybe I take this place for granted.<br />Now that it's almost 6 years since I lived in NZ, I now realise I sure did take it for granted.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSCZ4rWXRlGVKLr05bhb_OPo_9RdY9JalzgQ7ik-5bzrAMNRCSZm3hoU-whXr4yQL6AoFXIMt6HImYtIoHV9OQ8WyOfFCZfehqwMYxUp-0QhPl9LyYr4wn2-xw1cl8jC7c1TL6/s1600-h/scrub.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSCZ4rWXRlGVKLr05bhb_OPo_9RdY9JalzgQ7ik-5bzrAMNRCSZm3hoU-whXr4yQL6AoFXIMt6HImYtIoHV9OQ8WyOfFCZfehqwMYxUp-0QhPl9LyYr4wn2-xw1cl8jC7c1TL6/s400/scrub.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5012720348986447666" border="0" /></a><br />So, here is a quick shot of me in a small slice of heaven. You can't see my face by I am grinning. It's not easy work cutting gorse but I got a decent gas powered cutter last visit which makes it a bit easier.<br />In NZ, Gorse, Thistle and a bunch of other weeds were brought here by the English and Scots when they came here a couple of hundred years ago. Thistle was brought to remind the Scots of home, and Gorse was being used for farm hedges in England. Unfortunately, Gorse is nothing but a real pain in the ass (sometimes literally) in Aotearoa.<br />Anyway, its good to get away from the desk and do a decent days work in the sun on the land. Another perfect day in paradise.Truanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07464445916859825899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23230813.post-60226576468706025862006-12-04T10:36:00.000+08:002006-12-04T11:25:12.999+08:00Buy some Uranium online<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLK3zKAwFwhYKHGXQiYdWcIM-LrMk6BNHP_w8gmRvn_D1qFw0VAkX2MrI0k4E9N87AsezPte3d92r7SFqmfiUV-E1WoN_eI4eTr-FH3pyp-Dvp3Fa7exrTn2IbMetwjFY0wwcF/s1600-h/nerd2.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLK3zKAwFwhYKHGXQiYdWcIM-LrMk6BNHP_w8gmRvn_D1qFw0VAkX2MrI0k4E9N87AsezPte3d92r7SFqmfiUV-E1WoN_eI4eTr-FH3pyp-Dvp3Fa7exrTn2IbMetwjFY0wwcF/s400/nerd2.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5004507358204366754" border="0" /></a>Not to be outdone by my previous post about how impressive the web has become, how about this: <a href="http://unitednuclear.com">http://unitednuclear.com</a><br /><br />Buy some radioactive material for the hell of it. I bet Osama is pissed off he can't get a Credit Card....but wait, they take paypal.<br /><br />To be fair, I just noticed that this website will not ship outside of the US, which is really lucky for the rest of us at least that the US has narrowed down a safe haven to sell uranium and other radioactive material. There are obviously no idiots living in the land of the free.<br /><br />The site has a disclaimer:<br /><b><span style="font-family:MS Sans Serif;font-size:85%;color:#ff0000;">Because our products can be potentially hazardous in the wrong hands, we will occasionally terminate & refund orders if we feel you are juvenile posing as an adult, inexperienced with the materials ordered, or using our products to make any sort of explosive device.<br /><br /></span></b>That makes me feel all warm inside. How about you?Truanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07464445916859825899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23230813.post-23232319899273464232006-12-04T09:15:00.000+08:002006-12-04T10:21:29.289+08:00Buy a DIY Aircraft onlineI had to share this. In my view, the internet has come of age when I can go and add a kitset Aircraft (yes a real aircraft) to a web shopping cart, and pay for it with my Visa.<br /><br />DIY + Aircraft + Internet + VISA = one helluva busy garage.<br /><br />Indeed, for those of you who know me, we have found a match.<br /><br /><a href="http://hummelbird.com/#UC">http://hummelbird.com/#UC</a><br />is the site of a small DIY aircraft company in a place called <span style="font-weight: bold;">Bryan</span>, Ohio. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpruEaiwrZlYSCRk5rSgZf1fh8HPuLPSFJeWWHeR9SAS0rVltCDp0ucXeuSDOx2wyrmo9N_4rsCW89vYWqJcJrkjT_wMoU0kFTLlqYvb_UYoHI1dLCNZ77n7EKu_l7VfK7gO8h/s1600-h/hummel.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpruEaiwrZlYSCRk5rSgZf1fh8HPuLPSFJeWWHeR9SAS0rVltCDp0ucXeuSDOx2wyrmo9N_4rsCW89vYWqJcJrkjT_wMoU0kFTLlqYvb_UYoHI1dLCNZ77n7EKu_l7VfK7gO8h/s200/hummel.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5004482327134965634" border="0" /></a>I'd like to go to a place called Bryan. Bryan is also a brilliant name for a cat don't you think?<br />Personally, I think if I was going to build an DIY Aircraft, I would go for a Van's RV. I just like the look more and there are a lot of them around.<br />Both the Van's RV and the Hummel Ultra Cruiser look to be similar construction, predominantly using Aluminium Alloy which is something I personally prefer over GRP (resins & fibreglass n shit like that) as it's more retro. Besides that, I have the tools already.<br /><a href="http://www.vansaircraft.com/">http://www.vansaircraft.com/</a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMDg4luq0BgzPxl9nmTP1xppnG3XVD7u34HRXAC4skac7lyYyeuZyz1VqRsyykQgxuoH4ts43KKvLTI6iFtqiQQZdn1Hgs9xPdWAgpw-A8rcMvgEfz6_s5x_SQTmCPiaK1WpwK/s1600-h/RV10.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMDg4luq0BgzPxl9nmTP1xppnG3XVD7u34HRXAC4skac7lyYyeuZyz1VqRsyykQgxuoH4ts43KKvLTI6iFtqiQQZdn1Hgs9xPdWAgpw-A8rcMvgEfz6_s5x_SQTmCPiaK1WpwK/s200/RV10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5004482984264961938" border="0" /></a><br />The Vans RV-10 is a sleek 4 person aircraft, so it's in a different league in my opinion.<br />Anyway, there goes ANOTHER thing to add to the list of things to do. Just incase I ever get bored.Truanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07464445916859825899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23230813.post-88749179570363523212006-11-17T19:08:00.000+08:002006-11-17T19:16:52.489+08:00LabelsOK. Being the OCD idiot that eye yam, it took me some time to sort out blogging software cos I wanted categories, and at the time, blogger didn't have anything other than some search type hack that I found on some geek's site.<br />Anyway, Blogger have finally got with the program and have introduced Blogger Beta, complete with categories. They also have made managing a blog a whole shitload easier.<br /><br />If you are thinking about going for the upgrade (it's free of course) then just do it. It's also integrated with the best web based email system available today: "<s>bigbrother</s>G" mail.<br /><br />And then if you <span style="font-style: italic;">really </span>are OCD, you can go back and edit each post to add the labels. Then, it's easier for your stalkers to read all about you. See? -><br /><br />Oh, I do hate the layout of this brog also, if you were wondering. So I will do a revamp at some point soon. I know everyone is excited about <span style="font-style: italic;">that</span>.Truanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07464445916859825899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23230813.post-52803418668321031032006-11-15T10:47:00.000+08:002006-11-15T18:23:17.204+08:00Is the bubble about to burst?Real estate is an interesting thing.<br /><br />I was lucky enough to buy my first place when I was 23 - it was a shitty 100 year old villa that took me 7 years to finish.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6493/2835/1600/before2_small.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6493/2835/400/before2_small.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> I learned a lot about DIY and property by getting involved pretty <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6493/2835/1600/before1_small.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6493/2835/400/before1_small.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>early on.<br />At one point, I was pretty close to the wire and sold my car, so I was biking to work each day, and sometimes buying milk or bread with money that could only come out of the coin jar. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6493/2835/1600/frontfinished.0.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6493/2835/320/frontfinished.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Oddly enough, I look back at those times with some pretty fond memories because those are the times when it seems that strength of character and ambition was more important than financial security. Those sorts of conditions can bring out the best (or worse) in a person.<br /><br />Anyway, in NZ we have experienced a bit of a property boom since about mid 2001 - virtually to the month that we sold the house and left NZ for our 2-3 year Overseas Experience...that is now into it's 6th year. According to the stats, property rises have averaged 20% p/a for the last 4-5 years in some parts of NZ, and 80-100% increase in home values are not that uncommon. It's a similar sotry in other parts of the world, maybe the dates are different.<br />My view is that there is a correction coming. For the last 100 years, property has averaged more like 4-7% p/a in various parts of the world, so you have to ask yourself what impact the last 5 years of boom is going to have on the market in the next few years, if we are going to maintain that 4-7% p/a average.<br /><br />Fortunately for me, I bought my first place when some people were reducing prices to sell. Indeed, Real Estate was going <span style="font-style: italic;">down</span>. (I'm only talking the early-mid 90s here!)<br />These days, there is a new breed of people (or just those who have short memories) that believe 15-20% p/a increases are completely sustainable for the rest of their lives. Many people believe that this 15-20% p/a gain is something magical, "it's just the market showing it's true value" etc etc, but in the last few years, I believe that perhaps these unrealistic gains have been fueled by greed.<br />There are plenty of people who see 'flipping' as a realistic way to get ahead. Basically buying a place with the intention of selling it pretty quickly to the next person for a profit. Ya know, almost like MLM or Pyramid Selling.<br />The problem is, many of these people believe in "can't lose" mentality that they them selves are not content to cash up and enjoy the profits of their flips, rather, they extend their debt even further, making sure they are maximizing any equity they had by borrowing to the limit.<br />There is no belief that interest rates could possibly hike, or that the bubble will burst. Anyway, I think you get the idea.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6493/2835/1600/casey.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6493/2835/200/casey.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Here is an interesting blog. It is by a 24 year old budding "investor", who didn't know any better and took what we wanted to believe from various get rich quick seminars. His name is Casey Serin, and he bought 8 houses in 8 months with no money down, and lost. <a href="http://iamfacingforeclosure.com/1/why-i-am-facing-foreclosure/">http://iamfacingforeclosure.com/1/why-i-am-facing-foreclosure/</a><br /><br />Check out out some of the comments. Wow.<br /><br />Why is Real Estate so interesting? Cos is can make smart people do dumb things, and dumb people do smart things.Truanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07464445916859825899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23230813.post-20406663885366926132006-11-14T18:24:00.000+08:002006-11-15T18:19:04.484+08:00Some Kiwi HumorI remember seeing the first 42 Below Vodka ad circulating on email about 3-4 years ago. Sometimes living away from home, it's easy to forget some of the stuff that makes ya laugh and other people stare at you like you need help.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6493/2835/1600/42%20below.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 228px; height: 151px;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6493/2835/320/42%20below.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />I figured there must be more, so in between my busy appointments today, I decided to see what I could find.<br /><br />Well, treasure hunters, you are in luck.<br /><br />There is a whole collection of this stuff made by 42 Below Vodka. Very much bordering on offending even the PC police, but who cares right?<br /><br /><a href="http://www.42below.com/flashad/storyof42/">http://www.42below.com/flashad/storyof42/</a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><br /></span>Truanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07464445916859825899noreply@blogger.com