Alternative nutcases

OK, the title is deliberately  misleading. However, one of my favourite blokes to listen to is Phillip Adams on ABC Radio National "Late Night Live" - though sometimes fall asleep before the 10pm timeslot, can catch up with it at 4PM the following day [yer, i know, sort of illogical - late night live at 4pm].

While there has been an astonishing array of subjects covered over his 20 years on this program, this one also sort of caught my attention enough to mention it on a post.
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/latenightlive/stories/2011/3176948.htm

Am not sure whether there is a transcript available as yet .. but why not just summon some increasingly rare patience (and tranquility) to just sit .. and listen.

[nah, not, at this point, going to give a clue as to what it's about]

focussing attention

Ah,the media stoush as to who presents the message. Who wins the advertising campaign?

As Marshall Mcluan said many, many years ago (not going to make it easy, look'im up) the Media is the Message.

machinery update

Well, after several rebuilds, resurrections and a great deal of serious thought - my little Chinese manufactured 2 stroke generator has been .. um, retired. 14 months is not bad for $140-00. Can't afford a you beaut Honda pure sine wave generator at $1400 .. soo, well, had to buy another little 2 stroke Chinese 240V generator .. $219-00. However, seems to be producing enough grunt .. at the moment.

Also, was VERY pissed orf annoyed to discover that my printer - which has given me faithful service for 5 years or so, never had any trouble with it .. has become .. um, 'old hat'. A set of inks actually cost $30-00 more that a new model printer. Fuck!! - programmed obsolescence! .. one wonders why am still alive .. heh.

So, whatever, had some important stuff to print, so bought a new one. (not being locked into rent or mortgages always helps).

Am also learning about VN Holden engines .. at least they have nuts and bolts that I can fiddle with .. heh.

Gurgle confusion

Um, OK .. one of the reasons Womby's drivel has been silent for so long is that he's been completely confused, confounded and discombombulated by the plethora of sign in options belonging to Gurgle.

Have, it seems, several "Guggle accounts" .. all requiring different "usernames" and passwords.

Doesn't help that Womby's drivel uses an email address that I had when first began - 2005 (before Grungle got hold of Blogger) - but which is no longer valid .. sort of makes it difficult to 'recover' or 'change' a password if the 'confirmation' email disappears into cyberspace - and there is no way to contact a real person at Grungle to explain the situation (well, there IS a 'forum', but that is frustrating, and the "help" files are about as useful as an iPad to a blind man).

However, after much teeth-grinding, hair pulling, and objects thrown at walls - have now managed to figure out how to "sign on" to Wombat's Waffles.

Normal service will be resumed as soon as the valium kicks in.

Blurb Blues

In the post "Template changes”, I mentioned (recommended?) the internet publishing facility “Blurb.com” but have had some difficulties with it of late.

For info – these are a couple of screen-shots of experiments with the BookSmart template system.

(click for big biggies)

While the free download “book design” template program “Booksmart” is quite exciting, interesting and relatively easy to understand (once one gets the hang of it) – it does “promise” to be able to “slurp” a blog. In other words, it's supposed to “download” an entire blog into the Booksmart template, as well as “autoflow” or re-organise the entries into correct chronological order – i.e. from first post to last – and so from there, can edit, re-organise, delete posts, or re-write; and is certainly more efficient than “copy 'n' pasting” them all - but have discovered a major glitch.

It won't achieve that – for me at least, at this time,.

Am not really sure what it is, exactly, that is causing the glitch; and while the “tech support” system responds fairly quickly, they're asking me to forward files that don't exist – or haven't been created by this particular glitch.

So, let me backtrack a bit.

Had a fair idea that the “slurp” download of 800 posts and 520+ photos might take some time, and involve more megabytes than the $20 USB recharge allows – so, some weeks ago while at the Yorktown caravan park, went to the nearby “Internet” facility operated by the local council ($6-00/half hour, $4-00 per half thereafter) and attempted the first “slurp” download.

For a start, there is no facility or ability to choose whether to download “photos”, “text” - or both, which to me is a bittuva nuisance. I don't actually need to download the photos on the blog, since they're all full-size on my hard-drive.

So, when I clicked the “start slurp” button it began to download every image on the blog – all (at that time) 516 of them. There IS a small “thumbnail” box which shows which image is being downloaded, as well as a message which says “ ..downloading 1 (2,3, .. 42, etc.) of 516”.

All went well until 515 of 516 .. then the system crashed, and an error message appeared; with a “report this error” contact message box. I filled it in with a brief description of what happened (or didn't happen) and tried again from square one. Same crash.

I tried three times, but same thing happened each time.

Tech support responded via email but kept asking for a file which the program should have created in ../My documents/Booksmartdata – but didn't.

It did occur to me that the problem may have been because Womby's drivel was still using the “old” blogger template system – hence the update.

Have also “upgraded” to latest version of BookSmart, but while in Port V. the other day I went to the Newsagent which also has high-speed internet facilities and tried it again. Same thing happened. Downloaded all but last photo – then connection collapsed.

Am, at this point, thinking that there may be some Javascript in the sidebar which interacts badly with the download program so if things suddenly disappear from the sidebar at some time in the future – it's just me experimenting and trying to solve this glitch.

fishing

OOOps wrong image ..
Dunno where the days have gone, really.
The sun comes up from the middle of a distant, easterly barley-field stubble .. and disappears into the slightly curved, ultramarine horizon, occasionally flecked by distant merry whitecaps on a jocular sea.
I don't DO much, actually. A ramble along the dune-tops, amazed by the stunted, tough, hardy, spindly spiked vegetation who inhabit this area; surviving on dew, seaspray (and the occasional piss). Have dug down a bit to see if I could discover the true source of their sustenance and survival .. but have only discovered sand, drier than a Temperance Union Sunday breakfast.
One of the problems at the moment is a distancing from christian calendars. Had no idea that last weekend incorporated a “holiday” Monday (tho am bemused to note that that “holyday” was for a city horserace – apparently lobbied for and won from the State Gummint some time ago by the the local jockey club because “South Australia had one less public 'holiday'” than the rest of the States (fully supported, of course, by the Labour Unions) .. Oh Well .. heh. At this point of my life – every day is a “holy day”.
I was, however, somewhat premature when I wrote last Thursday about “solitude”.
Anyway, as of last Freya's day afternoon, and Saturn's day morn my “solitude space” was interspersed with 10 or so other tribal groupings – including one tribal group with 3 4X4's, two tents, a camper trailer, 5 trail bikes, two quad bikes who spent most of the next three days raising hell dust around the campsite.
Was up in Moonta a couple of days ago for supplies and casually mentioned it to the bar-person. “Oh yer,” he tells me, “on long weekends we're inundated with city people, so the locals go down the coast to escape.” Mmm, whatever.
Did, however, get to say hello to a bloke who unpacked his camper-trailer about 20 yards in front of the van.
[Curious thing – this area is, to all appearances – “uncontrolled” and yet there is very little litter – what there is I collect. I feel “safe” here, for all its isolation.
The only evidence of “local council” interest is a new sign-post with new concrete footings about 1k up the track proclaiming “Cape Elizabeth Conservation Area. Day use only” .. and an adjacent area on the map that says “Gynburra Narungga Aboriginal Land”. May their Spirits long be present.]
Another thought. What IS “natural” spacing? Everybody here seemed to camp about 22 yards away – the length of a cricket pitch? As far as a normal male can throw a fist sized rock?
All that being as it may – am, for all the “isolation” am untroubled by passers-by or other campers. If I believe myself unobserved, wander the dunes naked.
(the weather for this past week has been superb. Warm enough to wander naked, not hot enough to render a body prostrate or burnt to a crisp. Could I survive here unaided? Interesting question. Funny, really, have just finished reading “Naked under Capricorn” by Olaf (?).)

Fiddling with flags

t



(only one at the moment to pin to the topmast remnant.. heh.)

Ra .. Ra .. Ra

There are, of course, many names, myths, legends and Deities of ancient civilisations devoted to that bloody big hot thing that travels across the sky each day - but won't go into that, look 'em up for yourself.

What does fascinate me is the attitude of us Australians. We "worship" it, of course - surf, suntans, sport .. but bury our heads in the corpses of ancient dead trees deep underground when looking for energy to switch on a light .. or cappuccino machine, microwave oven, plasma TV set, toothbrush ..

Am going to make some guesses with the percentages here but let's say that a land mass roughly the size of the USA - or Europe - is 90% flat - ish, and more-or-less uninhabited. 80% of it receives direct sunlight for 100% of the day for 80% of the year.

Am slightly bemused by the fact that a country - Germany - with far less "available space" and "solar hours per year" - has a far more radical and progressive Solar power policy.

In fact, water in Australia is so scarce the (previous) Government was offering a "grant" of $150,000 for farmers to "walk off the land". What are they going to do with that money? Buy a one way ticket to China and work in a factory?

Doesn't make much sense to me, if one considers this story. German farmer makes better income.

Here, the over-stressed Murray Darling Irrigation system is on the verge of collapse. Dozens, if not hundreds of "small holding" irrigators are contemplating "walking away" - with the subsequent collapse of local communities and infrastructure.

If the Gummint is prepared to "grant" $150K .. why not offer to "lend" them another $xK to set up a "Solar" farm? They can't use the "too far away from the Grid" excuse that has been used in the "hot rocks" situation.

Don't particularly want to get all carried away with discussion re "geothermal" - but if we can afford - in recent times - to build a bloody railway line from Alice Springs to Darwin - shit, it's only 1500klm (1000 miles?) (or, previously, in a rather more "cash-strapped" era - a telephone line from Adelaide to Darwin [2000 miles?]) .. I can't figure out how the proposed [but ignored] Geothermal plants are "too far away". Shit, Roxby Downs is a stone's throw away .. in outback distances.

[and don't get me started on the benefits of Geothermal .. apart from everything else, does anyone really comprehend how much WATER a Nuclear Plant uses??].

Oh, where was I .. ah ..
.. back to the personal. I wuz gypped .. or rather "misunderstood the marketing". Was under the impression that this little baby out-putted 2 Amps in full sunlight. Not so .. barely 0.5 Amp .. but that's not a problem, have the 60 Watter on the caravan, this is sort of "Back-up". Neat package, though, look at all the "bits 'n pieces" it comes with. Manufactured in Canada, or so am led to believe, and only $140.00 from Tandy.

[side cutters not included - relative size reference only]

seems to work quite well in the shade, also - but am not going to mention any angst regarding Sliver Cell Technology . (which seems to have been invented/developed in Australia, and all but died due to previous Gummint dis- interest). Sheesh, 11 years wasted .. one can only try to not weep.

So ..
Am slowly getting organised ..






Ah, that last pic didn't quite turn out as it should have. The battery (80 amp deep cycle) is at the bottom, the "inverter" [converts 12 volt DC to 240 Volts modified sine wave AC] is poking its front out of the little rectangle just above it.

Hey, am not a complete "Greenie", just yet .. i do like some of the comforts and indulgences that 240 volt appliances provide. [heh]

Sol .. invictus

had, actually, intended to write a long and involved post about Solar panels .. as distinct from the worship of Old King Coal ..but the thought processes (as well as a radio, two television sets, two computers, three keyboards, two telephones, a smidge of bundy and coke and a general impression that nobody has the slightest interest in what i write ) .. sort of reduced the impetus to a small glow. (have just purchased another one. Tiny thing, only $140.00 - 00.07 Amps on a heavily overcast cloudy day, to be precise .. but the pics are on the other computer .. drat)

[click the title .. the priesthood on mons vaticanus weren't all that far out .. everything just became a bit sidetracked by ignorance, polititians, finance and franchises, somewhere around 1,700 years ago]

Audio

Elephants hear through their toes.

Dolphins and whales hear through their nose.

Oh Really? Dunno. Have never been an elephant, dolphin nor whale.

have always been fascinated by SOUND, the vibrations through the tiny hairs in the ear.

and so, spent some money .. well, wasted a bit BUT .. found some AUDIO.

funny, really, some people spend Vast amounts of money on .. what?

technilogical re-creations of thunderstorms or the gentle sussurations of wavelets on a seashore? Whatever happened to the subtle, sensuous, ability of the human eardrum?

So, Audiophile that I am .. have spent some money, just so that i can re-experience some other human created symphonies that I miss.



So simple, so small, so given to the full richness of recorded sound. The TEAC "Bricks" have been around for more than 30 years. Have just been waiting for a smallish 12 volt, solar powered, amplifier to "catch up".

[Ah, forgot to mention that while you can "see" it ya can't "hear" it .. it's actually playing MOZART Piano concerto No. 21 at full blast.. magnificent.]

looking toward the future

yer, I know, have been a bit slack regarding "personal" details of late. Just few hints here and there.

Am getting a bit confused, bothered and bewildered by this sort of stuff ..




So, am heading toward this sort of stuff ..


Why do i have to be pissed orff by a plethora of interconnecting cables and plug-holes that mostly do not match - but, basically, are supposed to achieve the same end?

Addendum- for the technophobes/philes:

Acer Travelmate

7720G-602G32MN C2D2.2/2/320/17/XPP
TM 7720G C2D 2.2/2GB/320/DVDRW/17/
C2D T7200 - 2.2GHz, 2GB (2x1GB), 320GB, DVD-RW,
17", 512MB ATI RAD HD 2600XT, VB, 1YR PI DATE: August 2007
PROC : Intel Core 2 Duo processor T7500 (2.2GHz, 4MB cache, 800MHz FSB)
Intel Centrino Duo mobile tech, Mobile Intel PM965 Express Chipset
MEM : 2GB (2 x 1GB) PC5300 DDR2-SDRAM
STORAGE: 160X2 (320)GB SATA 5400rpm hard drive; OPTICAL DRIVE: DVD-RW Drive
DISPLAY: 17-inch WXGA CrystaBrite Widescreen TFT
COMMS : Built-in 56Kbps international fax/modem
10/100/1000 LAN & Intel 4965AGN 802.11a/g/n Wi-Fi with SignalUp
Integrated Bluetooth 2.0+EDR (Enhanced Data Rate)
GRAPHICS: ATI Mobility Radeon HD 2400 XT with 512MB of HyperMemory
AUDIO : Intel High-Definition audio support
2 x Built-in Acer 3DSonic stereo speakers [note - very tinny, prefer my Altec Lansings]
* Acer PureZone technology with two built-in stereo microphones featuring
beam forming, echo cancellation, and noise suppression technologies
I/O PORTS: 1 x 10/100LAN port, 4 x USB 2.0 ports, 1 x Modem port,
5-in-1 card reader (SD, MMC, MS, MS PRO, xD)
ExpressCard/54 slot, 1 Type II slot, Firewire + S-video port
POWER : Long life Lithium Ion batt up to 4 hrs life (8 Cell-Hi capacity)
OS : Windows XP (SP2)
WEIGHT : From 3.8 Kg
* Acer Bio-Protection fingerprint reader supporting Acer FingerNav
4-way control function
* Integrated CrystalEye webcam supporting enhanced Acer PrimaLite tech
* FineTouch ergonomic keyboard with launch & programmable keys
* Seamless touchpad pointing device with 4-way scroll button [note - self finds the bloody thing difficult, prefers a real life, "Big thumb" USB mouse]

[All in all, am very pleased with it, has improved video editing out of sight .. so to speak. The battery doesn't last all that long, and it gets quite hot when plugged long term into 240volt.]

What else does one do with bits of a tree?

One of the responses to a previous post was 'bastard, tree murderer'. Interesting.

Is the preference mashing them into pulp for the profit of daily "news"? ..
or ..






Heh.