Over and out.

I've had some fun with this blog over the last few months.  However, I've decided that it's time to call it quits.

I've come to the conclusion that blogging is not really what I would like to do, much like other forms of social media (those of you who know me will be aware that I don't Facebook or Twitter - nor do I ever intend to).

From now on I have virtually zero online presence beyond the Paint.NET forum, and that suits me just fine.

So it's "Goodnight from me..."

"And it's goodnight from him."

Over and out.

the 1080 debate rages on.

I found this excellent and thoughtful article on the use of 1080 in New Zealand by Nicola Toki:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/blogs/in-our-nature/8954961/Why-1080-is-a-dirty-word

I dislike the use of this toxic crap as I have remarked previously on this blog.  I don't like that it destroys non-target animal life.  Yes it kills predators, but also their prey.  The very animals we are trying to protect.

"Oh look.  We killed over 1000 possums!"
"Yeah.  You did.  Shame about the last Spotted Kiwi in NZ dying too."

The biggest problem I have with 1080 is that you can never win with it.  Stop dropping the stuff and the predator population springs back.  Much in the same way that myxomatosis initially knocked back rabbits.  Well, they're back.  Not only back, rabbits have flooded back into the areas that were so nearly cleared out.

According to the experts, the only way to stay ahead of the game is to keep pouring 1080 into our native bush.  For ever.

I don't think so.

I was once asked for my solution.  I came up with the idea of genetic modification of the predator species.  What if the predator could be manipulated to only give birth to sterile or male offspring?  Game over, stoat!  Weasel out of that one.

The natural consequence of this sort of population control is that it is species specific and ongoing.  You can imagine the population dropping by massive amounts in just a few years as the population becomes increasingly sterile, male or both.

It's a thought, and one that would find a great deal of public support.  Unlike 1080.

Fonterra Word Association Game

Let's play a game shall we?  It's a word association game.

Fonterra
Dirty Dairying
Melamine
Dicyandiamide
Botulism
Fonterra

For life??  More like "fails life".

Plain Talking with Clemetine Ford

In her article entitled "Shouting back at Twitter rape threats", Clemetine Ford dropped this little beauty:

"...her efforts were rewarded by a sustained Twitter attack from some of the more repugnant turds excreted by society's sulphurous bottom."

Way to go Clementine!  You tell them!

Full article >> http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/8981403/Shouting-back-at-Twitter-rape-threats

Me and Banky

I couldn't have foreseen the day when I would hold John Banks up as someone to honor.

(image: www.idealog.co.nz)

Today is that day.  Who would have thought?

You see, John has publicly spoken out against the testing of psychoactive substances (party pills et al) on animals.  Good on you John!

The Psychoactive Substances Bill is currently before a parliamentary committee despite an overwhelming number of Kiwis being against this cruel and inhumane treatment of animals.

If you wouldn't want your child/sibling/relative using these drugs then why allow them to be tested on animals?  Surely a complete ban is the way to move forward?

I can't believe that animal testing is so blithely accepted in New Zealand.

And before you claim that it doesn't happen here, it does.  Have a look at this: http://www.banbeagleexperiments.org.nz/

Ignorance is bliss right?

The good people of New Zealand are up in arms about this bill.  Join us.

Read about the protests on Stuff:  http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/8980455/Protest-against-animal-testing

Paint.NET chain link tutorial

Speaking of tutorials.   My mate Welshblue has come up with this beauty: Chain Link tutorial

Once again, Welshblue has proved just why he has been recognized as the King of Paint.NET. I don't think my try at the tutorial does it justice.

Still.  Neat effect eh?  Thanks Welshblue!

Roll out the barrel

New tutorial posted on the Paint.NET forum by Skullbonz.

The tutorial details how to make a barrel.  It's nice and easy, so I made one.  Cool!

Find the tutorial here: forums.getpaint.net/index.php?/topic/26840-make-a-rusty-barrel

Winston Preciousssssss Peters

Dear old John Key has today refused to rule out working with Winston Peters in the next post-election fallout.

Remember, Frodo had to work with Gollum, distasteful as it was, in order to achieve a higher goal.

Beware, John. Winston is more tricksy and less trustworthy that Gollum ever was.  And of course he is his own Preciousssssss...

Saul Jacob Beaumont - scumbag

Saul Jacob Beaumont appeared in the Hamilton District court today, charged with deliberately breaking the tails of 46 cows.  Beaumont acknowledged responsibility for the depraved acts and cited 'anger issues' as some sort of defense.

more >> http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/dairy/8962587/Abhorrent-Man-charged-with-breaking-cows-tails

What a bloody monster.

You would have to fear that this creature is going to have a long and terrible career as a violent criminal.

This sort of offending tells you that he is a danger to all those around him - children especially.

Let's hope he's impotent.

Prince Charming?

X Factor unveiled by Simon Sweetman

I have a new God of Plain Talking.

His name is Simon Sweetman.  He's written an article on stuff.co.nz that has really laid the X Factor bare.

I love the sort of directness Simon sprinkled liberally through his article.  Some of the gems....

The X-cruciating factor (headline)

...New Zealand's next big pop star is Jackie Thomas. Who? Well, that's right - she'll be working at the checkout counter before too long. 

But are there really any winners? By winning the competition isn't she already set up as the biggest loser...

...a second season is already lined up after all and our idiotic funding body has already gone into bat, giving out our money.

Jackie Thomas will join the names Ben Lummis and Rosita Vai - people who can sing at the local church or RSA and hey, they're better than you and me, sure, but they did no such thing as become a pop star. Their fame wasn't even fleeting - they were paraded around cruelly for another tier of ugliness

Jackie Thomas is a nobody. 

So I couldn't watch it. Not even for the car-crash.

X-Factor is a cruel rort; a nasty ruse and we're all being ripped off by it. 

But now Jackie Thomas will think she's somebody for a day. For a week. For a tour. For an excruciating album with a tacky video and for a handful of promotional appearances at movie theatre malls around the country timed for the school holidays.

And then she'll work at a packhouse or as a cleaner or go on to train to do whatever else in this world.

... wearing The X-Factor crown is worse than meaningless - it's the ultimate sign that you have nothing close to anything resembling an x-factor.

... another sign that NZ On Air is a cruel, nasty joke. A clueless, sac-less vacuity.

 Just another laughing stock in waiting while New Zealand's real talent schleps it out loading its own gear, playing to no one for twice as long and half as much as it should.

The X-Factor should make us all die inside a little. 

X-Factor you are cruel. You are ugly. You are not what I want for this world.

Simon - I salute you.

Full rant >> http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/blogs/blog-on-the-tracks/8952155/The-X-cruciating-factor

Asiana fake pilot names

Apologies to the grieving families and friends, but I have to admit that this story had me in stitches.

US television station KTVU approached the NTSB (National Transportation Transport Board) and asked them to confirm the names of the pilots in the ill-fated plane which crash landed in San Francisco.

According to the NTSB, a 'summer intern' exceeded their authority in confirming the names to the TV station.

The names were duly read out live on air.

(Source: YouTube, KTVU)

Setting aside the racial element, the really funny thing is that the fake names are in 

ascending order of panic you might expect in the cockpit immediately prior to the crash.

I'd like to find the person responsible for this little gem and shake them by the hand.  It's an awesome bit of comedy.

Want to know the really, really, REALLY funny thing?  The airline is planning to sue the TV station.  Claiming ...

"We decided to sue KTVU because Asiana Airlines thinks their news defames our pilots and our company's reputation," Kiwon Suh, an Asiana spokesman, said.

Surely that should be spokeman We Su Yu As?  

Of course the Asiana pilots didn't manage to dent their companies reputation by crash landing the plane did they?

Give it up Asiana.  All you'll reap is more comedy at your expense.

Zombie Newsflash - they're dangerous!

I like a laugh.  Especially when it concerns Zombies.  So I had to re-post the following article from stuff.co.nz.

Zombie injury bill scary stuff

Zombies and vampires may be popular in Hollywood, but their supernatural antics should come with a warning after ghostly injuries cost ACC almost $25,000 in the past five years.

ACC claims figures show the agency paid out $24,834 to more than 20 people between 2008 and 2012 for ghost, vampire and zombie-related accidents.

Explanations for the paranormal injuries varied.

They included crashing into a pole while playing zombies at school, accidentally put arm through window telling a ghost story, hit head crawling under bed to find ghost, fell off stage during ghost tour, bumped into dishwasher playing ghost tag, banged forehead on door frame wearing a blanket pretending to be a ghost and knocked over by a vampire.

Most of the money was paid out in 2010, where six claimants received varying shares of $20,696.

An ACC spokeswoman said many of the unearthly injuries were the result of preventable accidents.

"The safest place in your house for a zombie is the living room," she said.

- © Fairfax NZ News

Zombies are dangerous.  Who would have thought?

(image - americablog.com)

Braaaaiiinnnnnnnnsssssss.....

Nick Smith - so close and yet so far....

Conservation Minister Nick Smith pushed all the right buttons when he declined the Milford Dart tunnel project through conservation land.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/8930108/Final-call-on-Milford-Tunnel-due

In his decision released yesterday, Smith explained that the $180 million project to link the Fiordland and Mt Aspiring National Parks via tunnel was "beyond what was appropriate for a World Heritage Area".

It's virtually unthinkable for a Minister of the National government to place environmental concerns ahead of profits and jobs. Applause all round I would say.

Unfortunately Smith has undone much of the good work with this little bombshell released later the same day:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/8934809/Nick-Smith-backs-1080-call

That's right our conservation Minister backs the plan to use more 1080.  He is OK with pouring more of this incredibly toxic crap all over the pristine countryside he wants so much to protect.

*sigh*

So it's one step forwards, and one back it seems.

(image - stuff.co.nz)

That's right Nick.  You were that close to gaining a great deal of support for your conservation stance.

Apple - rotten to the core

The market darling Apple company has been found guilty of price fixing of ebooks in collusion with five major publishers.

The publishers (Hachette Book Group, MacMillan, HarperCollins, Penguin Group and Simon & Schuster) settled out of court, leaving Apple to face the wrath of Judge Denise Cote.

In her ruling, US District Court Judge Cote said...

"The plaintiffs have shown that the publisher defendants conspired with each other to eliminate retail price competition in order to raise e-book prices, and that Apple played a central role in facilitating and executing that conspiracy.  Without Apple's orchestration of this conspiracy, it would not have succeeded as it did in the spring of 2010."

Apple have released a statement since the ruling asserting their innocence - even though their co-conspiritors have already cut and run...

"Apple did not conspire to fix ebook pricing and we will continue to fight against these false accusations. When we introduced the iBookstore in 2010, we gave customers more choice, injecting much needed innovation and competition into the market, breaking Amazon's monopolistic grip on the publishing industry. We've done nothing wrong and we will appeal the judge's decision."

Obviously a case of a rotten Apple.

Best headline (Christchurch Press) "Judge throws ebook at Apple"

More >>

Story on techcrunch.com

More detail at guardian.co.uk

Photo caption?

Found this photo and caption in this weeks edition of the Central South Island Farmer newspaper.

According to the caption, Scott Pearson "draws in roadside shingle".  Remarkably accurate, but why not:

 "..utilizes a local, natural resource to render a representation of regional topography in micro scale."

Much better.  Politicians & Management would appreciate the difference I'm sure.

Bye bye iPod Shuffle

Accidentally put my iPod Shuffle through the washing machine. It's dead.  "Bereft of life it rests in peace..."

Kids: Don't try this at home.

On the up-side, I get to delete iTunes from my PC!

Alistair Griffin - Albion Sky

This album is also on high rotation through my MP3 player.

Alistair has a brilliant voice and a clean fresh sound.  The entire Albion Sky album is worth listening to.

Favorite tracks are this one (Always No. 1) and the title track.

If you like music where the vocals are more important than the gyrations then you might like this.

Mysteria - Chasing the Divine

I've become hooked on the album Chasing the Divine by Mysteria.

The music is emotive, a bit New Age and possible even able to be described as esoteric.  It's reflective stuff with a heavy symbolism in the lyrics and quite beautiful accompanying music.

If you're a fan on Enigma you'll likely enjoy this.

Bought the CD from Wow HD - because foolishly Amazon refuse to send music to New Zealand.  How strange.

Pita Sharples - Zombification

As promised...

(image - odt.co.nz)

Tickle me, Elmo.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/tv/8866726/Lawsuits-against-Elmo-actor-thrown-out

The headline says it all really....

Pita Sharples - dead?

I like Pita Sharples.

He's a man of principles.  Integrity.  Honor.  What Maori would call 'Mana'.  A statesman.  Someone we can trust.  I'm sure that Pita would be fun to be around.  His genial smile and infectious good humor make him someone I would probably like a great deal.

It's a shame then, that he must have passed away recently.

I say this because he resigned from the Maori Party co-leadership on Tuesday of this week.  Yet previously, Pita was quoted as saying that he would "lead (the party) until I'm dead".

Based on that quote, he must have died.  What a shame.

How then does a part-time blogger explain his current state?  Ambling around and holding press conferences?  You guessed it - he has to be a....ZOMBIE!

Zombification image to follow.  Stay tuned....

Telling it like it is..

... I hope he rots in hell.

Retired Poughkeepsie Detective Captain Charles Mittelstaedt, about James Nichols on the discovery of the remains of James' missing wife JoAnn Nichols.

(image - Poughkeepsie Police Department)

JoAnn went missing in 1985.

Her body was found behind a false wall inside the family home following the recent death of James.

A forensic report indicates she died from a blow to the skull.

Full story on stuff.co.nz 

Confirming what we already know - Bieber is uncool

Justin Bieber you are probably the un-coolest person I can think of in the universe 

I like this quote from Andrew Porteous over on Stuff (http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff-nation/assignments/share-your-news-and-views/8862957/How-Justin-Bieber-ruined-tattoos)

Andrew laments the loss of cool because Bieber treats tattooing as a fad.  Among Biebers other crimes are driving a leopard print car and a Segway.

Tide seems to be turning against the plastic fantastic (as I like to refer to him - the title seems apt now that MJ is gone).  His manufactured persona and the instantly forgettable "songs" irk me to the core.

Andrew signs off the article with this:

For the sake of everyone out there Bieber, stop getting ink. Return tattoos to the realm of the cool, the drunk and the brave.

Amen!

Leak-proof Tampax ad.

With ads like these - who needs boring TV programs?



I like a laugh ~ Alexi Sayle

Did you see the limb come off?  Cool!

Of course Zombies are attracted to blood.  Don't go there....

Best pie in Waimakariri...

Last weekend I had lunch at the Leithfield hotel (Leithfield,  North Canterbury).

The reason we ate there was that the new owners of the pub are Mike and Denise McCutcheon.  Who?  You might ask.  They are the people who ran Robbie's in Rangiora before quake damage closed the building they were operating out of.

Robbie's was famous due in part to the excellent quality of the food and the nice atmosphere the owners created.  Their menu was wide and varied.  Everything on it was excellent.  This was why it became our lunch venue of choice.

Sadly, the quakes changed all that.

Now Mike and Denise have taken over the Leithfield pub and a serving up a (smaller) selection of the fare they formerly offered at Robbies.  In particular is the world famous steak and mushroom pie.

Having rediscovered this exquisite pie I can easily vote it the

Best Pie in Waimakariri

Go out to the Leithfield pub and try one.  You won't be disappointed!  

At $12 the pie meal is excellent incredible value. The taste is awesome. 

Thanks Mike & Denise!

Microsoft backs down after Sony kicks console ass

http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/blogs/game-junkie/8825103/Microsoft-backtracks-on-next-gen-vision

Microsoft has made major concessions with it's Xbox One.  No longer will the console require an online connection and games can be bought and sold just like the 360.

This reversal marks a huge backdown by the software giant.  So much so that wags online are now calling the new console the Xbox 180.  You've gotta laugh.

 One wonders how Microsoft got it so wrong.  Did they really believe that punters would accept their draconian vision of game ownership and access?  Really?

More than the telling public storm, is the fact that PS4 sales were leaving the Xbox One dead in the water.  Some markets reported PS4 sales were outstripping Xbox One by 7 to 1.  Horrifying figures for Microsoft.  Of course a viral video from Sony mocking Microsoft's ineptitude probably didn't help in the humiliation stakes either.

I'm still not buying an Xbox One.  Not until I can play my current back catalog of games on it (see my previous blog post).

Come on Microsoft, do another 180 on this issue and you'll have a full 360.  And you'll have a console I'll be willing to purchase.

More > http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/games/8831970/Microsoft-Cries-Uncle-on-Xbox-One-Battle

Xbox One - not "The One" for me

Microsoft has had another brain fade in announcing that it's much touted Xbox One will not play older games.

http://au.businessinsider.com/xbox-one-will-not-work-with-old-xbox-games-2013-5

http://au.businessinsider.com/why-the-new-xbox-one-wont-play-old-xbox-360-games-2013-5

When I heard this I was astonished.  Backwards compatibility should have been a must to get users to carry over from their previous consoles.

When I bought my Xbox 360 I gave away my original Xbox with some of the games I didn't like.  I kept the games I did like because they played on my new console.  I was happy with this.

According to Microsoft, their new console "It uses an “x86″ architecture for its processor and the others relied on a “PowerPC” architecture."  Therefore it won't work.  Rubbish!  They simply haven't bothered, gambling that punters will flock to the new Xbox One and abandon their old machines and games. Nope.

Expect a reversal on the stance from Microsoft.  Just like their Windows 8 reversal on the need for a start button.  They'll bring out an update which opens access to old games when their sales targets are missed by miles.

You heard it here first.

I'm keeping my Xbox 360 until it dies.  If I can't play my current selection of games  on the One, I'll replace it with another 360.  Chew on that Microsoft.

Sky TV miffed over football loss

Sky TV has had the rug pulled from under it by an upstart company Coliseum Sport Media Management (CSM).  CSM has successfully out-bid SKY for three years' worth of the Premier League Football coverage. 

Hu-Rah!

I'm a Sky subscriber - and I'm not a happy one.  You see I have to subscribe to the basic digital package ($46.92) then add the basic Sports package ($26.45 - total $73.37) in order to watch _some_ live tennis (TVNZ has the rights to Wimbledon this year).   

Now I'm irked that I have to spend so much in order to watch so little.  In our home we watch very little TV at all.  If we could, we would be happy to subscribe to just the stuff we wish to watch.  To be honest we seriously considered dumping Sky completely and going TV free.  In the end we felt we would miss the tennis too much.

The news that CSM has upped the ante and proven that digital distribution can work is a god-send to aggrieved Sky subscribers like me.  I can't wait until the major tennis competitions offer an online subscription to the live TV feed.  I'd be much happier paying Wimbledon.com (or whatever) $120 for the two weeks coverage than paying Sky anything for the rubbish they offer on most of their channels.


"Sky: your happy place" - yeah right!


Story on Stuff: here.

Dating Website logo - next competition

The subject for the next competition I'm entering on the Paint.NET forum is

Dating Website Logo

I threw this together last night.

The ideas:

The gold snake/ring is ouroboros - a symbol of things cyclic or something constantly re-creating itself (like people - hence appropriate for a dating site).  Sometimes seen in rings of betrothal or marriage - this should explain the golden color.

Male and female symbols are my take on the generic male = circle with arrow and female = circle with + signs.  I got the colors backwards - but it's too late now.  Blue should be the male symbol and pink the female. Doh!

The text is Edwardian Script with a linear reflected gradient to provide some texture.  A highlight (or sparkle) on the leading letter gives a gloss effect to make the text appear slightly shiny.

The rest of the logo is shadowing and shine on the major elements.

The whole logo took me less than two hours to complete.

Competition win = me!

I won a little competition on the Paint.NET forum.

It was my first win in these competitions.  I don't consider myself much of an artist - my art tends to be rigid and mechanical.  I have trouble with colors, proportion, abstracts and textures (maybe I'm just being too hard on myself).  I'm fond of telling people that my brother got Art and History, while I got Maths and Science!

The win is quite special to me as a number of very fine digital artists were also entered.

Here is my entry.  The topic was Mathematical/Numerical.

EER is short for my forum username Ego Eram Reputo (latin for "I've been thinking").

The formulae are Paint.NET's layer blend modes which I researched and wrote up for my book Mastering Paint.NET 3.5.10.

Peter Dunne - gobble gobble

I watched MP Peter Dunne's demise on TV3 tonight.  With the finger of blame for the GCSB report leak pointed directly at him there was no where to hide and the result was inevitable.  Dunne's resignation is perhaps the best thing he could have done now that things have gone this far.

Pundits are calling the resignation the "end" of Dunne.  Maybe so.  It's not looking great for Peter - which is a ignominious end to a long career.

I for one won't be sad to see the back of Peter Dunne.  I hold him personally responsible for not knocking back the sale of fireworks a few years back ( http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0611/S00138.htm ).  We can all do without explosives in the hands of minors.  Pity Dunne couldn't see that.

I was also aghast when Peter admitted that he thought testing of party pills on animals was a good idea ( http://blog.eternalvigilance.me/2012/12/peter-dunne-is-a-sick-puppy/ ).  Fortunately Dunne was forced to back down following a significant public outcry.  What was he thinking?

I wanted to do a photo-chop of Dunne as a clown - like my treatment of Aaron Gilmore, but my partner came up a better idea...

Pic of the week from CoNZervative blog

Found this great pic posted on my Bro's blog

I'm wondering if this Zombie fascination is somehow....IN OUR BLOOD?

How To Spot A Zombie (4)

4. Zombies always have bad-hair days.

It has been brought to my attention that I have zombified two dark skinned political people to one Caucasian.  Obviously this will not do.  I don't want to run into the trouble that cartoonist Al Nisbet did (here and here).  So in the time honoured way, I'll set things right by doing another Caucasian.  And a woman too - just to prove I'm not sexist either.

Right Julia?

(original image - www.news.com.au)

How To Spot A Zombie (3)

3.  Zombies don't speak.  Instead they utter wails, moans or hiss with wide open mouths.  Zombies will do this with full mouths (of BRaaaaaiiiinnnssssss!).

Continuing my trend of zombification of political people, this is Hone.  He would like to eat your brains.

(original image www.waateanews.com)

The Ford Falcon folds it's wings

The much anticipated announcement has finally broken, production of the Ford Falcon will be discontinued from 2016.

Of course Ford nutters are horrified, the rest of the world won't be surprised.  You see the Falcon is a dinosaur.  An inefficient behemoth that is decades past it's use-by date.  I say this as a previous Ford owner - my very first car was a Cortina.

Now-days, Falcons can be roughly grouped into three categories:

Type I (car older than 10 years) - the car will be rough, lowered and on it's way to, or from a crime scene.  It will be driven by a shaven headed male Bogan who still thinks it's cool to do a burnout from every standing start.  Cops love these guys because they are too stupid to be difficult to catch.  Occasionally driven by the Bogan's skanky moll on her way to court, or Prison, to see her man.

Type II (less than 10 years old and driven aggressively) - these are driven almost exclusively by fat males who still think they're 21 and have ABs.  They drink too much, laugh too loud and are generally obnoxious people to be around.  They wear offensive shorts, have acres of pale flesh and are prone to road rage.  Their wives hate them.  If you're being aggressively tail-gaited by a Ford Falcon Ute chances are you're seeing a Type II.  Be very afraid.

Type III (any age Falcon in excellent condition).  A true enthusiast with a passion for the brand.  Most commonly seen on Sunday drives with the husband driving and the wife in the passenger seat.  They will be packing a thermos and actually use maps.  These people are fun to be around if you share their obsession, otherwise they tend to bore.  Their Falcon will be pristine or actively on it's way to becoming so.

How to spot A Zombie (2)

2. Zombies have weird eyes - and cannot be cured.  Not even by ObamaCare.

How to spot a Zombie (1)

1.  Zombies have a pallid complexion.

Hillary is not British.

The Brits are the latest group to be inducted into my informal "Hall Of Journalistic Infamy".

It doesn't take much to get inducted.  All you have to do is publish rubbish.

The UK's own Daily Telegraph is the latest offender.  They have claimed Sir Ed Hillary as a Brit!  The offending article can be found here:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/space/10067613/Our-man-in-space.html

While it's true that the expedition to Everest was British, Ed Hillary is most certainly NOT.  He's one of us New Zealanders.  And we are rightly proud of him and his legacy.

The New Zealander Sir Ed Hillary  (image Stuff.co.nz)

It's noteworthy that Australians have also tried to claim Sir Ed.  C'mon Aussies, we gave you Russell Crowe so don't try to pinch our Ed.

Charcoal Pig

Here's another image I created with Paint.NET.  I was trying to fake a charcoal-like drawing, hence the title Charcoal Pig!

Enso circle

Had some fun today creating this.  No reason, other than I just wanted to help someone on the Paint.NET forum who was asking how it could be done.

Stuff.co.nz is keen on Zombies too!

A couple of Zombie stories have surfaced in the last few days:

Dead-keen-on-zombies

Zombie-tourism-heading-to-Auckland

(image: Tomsguide.com)

Marvelous to have the crew at Stuff joining the legion of Zombie fans!

This story on Stuff also caught my eye:  http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/8690278/Family-counts-blessings-after-superbug-scare

Wellington man Rick Teal had a nasty brush with the awesomely named necrotising fasciitis.  Rick survived and has some nasty scars to remind him of how lucky he was.

Why is this linked to my blog about Zombies?  Think about it.  This is the way the Zombie Apocalypse is going to start.  With hordes of people presenting in hospitals with necrotising fasciitis.

When people do start catching this flesh eating bug in droves I'm going to start preparing the barricades!

(image: therottingzombie.blogspot.com - cool name eh?)

Review: Espresso Garden Cafe (Rangiora, NZ)

Situated inside the building that houses Mitre10 Mega on the southern edge of Rangiora.

Atmosphere:

The cafe is small, with a handful of outdoor tables.  It is generally a quiet and peaceful place.  A nice place to have a mid-morning latte and a bite to eat.  

Because of it's location inside Mitre10, the cafe is a less obvious choice when seeking a cafe to travel to.  Instead it's more likely to be a place you visit when shopping in Mitre10.  The immediate area has no other choices of cafe.

The outdoor tables are a bit tired looking and occasionally rickety.  Pick a warm day to sit outside.

As seems to be the norm these days, local artworks can be found on the walls. 

Music is subtle and well chosen.  If you're lucky you might hear one of the senior staff sing a little of the song currently playing.  She has an excellent voice and I find the effect quite charming.  This is a relaxed place, not all bustle and noise.  So it is a great place to unwind a little.

At certain hours you'll be the only patrons present - I tend to like this.

Service:

Staff are courteous and friendly.  Nothing seems to bother them and you are made to feel very welcome.  Service is quick.

Drink:

Disappointingly, on our last visit the coffees were not as hot as usual.  This is not the norm as generally the coffees are quite good. Hopefully this was just a temporary glitch, but it will probably delay our next visit.

Food:

A good selection of hot and cold food is offered.  The food is of a high quality. 

Overall Rating: 

7/10 

It's All Right...

The "It's All Right..." message has begun popping up all over Canterbury in a reaction to the emotional turmoil the earthquakes have caused.

 

 

This is a marvelous campaign, which does a lot to help.  The website is kind of cool, and packed with helpful advice.  You can even post your own tip on how you de-stress.  Find the website here: http://www.allright.org.nz/

Yesterday a number of It's All Right cards were delivered to my workplace.  We had a giggle over them and, you guessed it, had to write our own....

It's all Right...

To feel Underpaid.

To Feel Undervalued.

To Feel Overworked.

To Feel Treated like a Mushroom.

To Drink Heavily.

To Weep for No Reason.

To Dream of Running Amok with an Assault Rifle.

Yeah Right!

Warrior Aaron Gilmore demands Utu

Aaron Gilmore is completely unable to shut his mouth when he should do so.  So while he's making a dick of himself I feel that it is only proper that the media continues taking the Michael.

I present Warrior Gilmore, whose fierce visage and demands of 'utu' must have his opponents quaking in their boots.

The Natural Selection of Male Drivers

Excellent news!  Due to a high-speed crash in South Auckland over the weekend, four idiots are dead and the rest of us are, on average, a tiny bit safer on the roads.

People are calling this a tragedy.  It’s only so for the grieving families.  I don’t give a toss when young idiots wipe themselves out.  Let’s face it, we are all secretly pleased they didn't kill one of our family or some other innocent party.

Natural selection has judged the following and found them wanting…

   Dominic Stehlin, 19

   Uesitini Tootoo, 18

   George Lomia, 20

   Viane Gaga, 18

Astonishingly, a Stuff.co.nz article had us believe that the fourth victim (Gaga) died “peacefully some hours later” following his life support being switched off.  Ask yourself; is it possible to die peacefully from massive injuries while struggling to cling to life?

According to Police, the Honda the four were in was travelling at an estimated 160km/h and crashed into a parked ute.  I have some sympathy for the ute owner who is now without their vehicle through no fault of their own.

Counties Manukau District Commander Superintendent John Tims expressed frustration over the incident:

"There is a simple and persistent message to all drivers, especially young drivers, is that when police ask you to stop, please stop.”

Great advice which will continue to be ignored by the quick and the (soon to be) dead.

Weight loss secret revealed!

I don't know why, but this blog is getting a lot of hits from some sort of weight loss website.

I suspect that this is some sort of stupid spam thing, but because I'm a helpful kind of guy I'll give you my absolutely 100% successful tip on losing weight.

Al you need to do to lose weight is:

Eat less and exercise more

Simply really!

All you have to do is keep applying this golden rule and you WILL lose weight.  I'm living proof that this works - I have a BMI of 21 and can run 10km in less than 43 minutes.  Not bad for someone approaching 50.  I eat anything I please because I burn plenty of energy.

Now some stupid things fat people say to me:

1. I've tried all the diets.

You probably have, but you're still fat.  Now try my golden rule.  100% success guaranteed!

2. Have you lost weight?

No I haven't - but you certainly found some!  That's why I look slim beside you.

3. I can't exercise because I'm injured/fat/genetically unable to.

You can and should exercise.  Remember, you're dying faster than everyone who does.

4. I lose weight then put it back on.

You need to permanently change your lifestyle.  Eating is YOUR problem.  Admit it and start a new life today.

5. I can't lose weight.

That's true.  You can't.  That's because you're a glutton or lazy, or both.


Now before you get all miffed at me let me explain that I'm not a fat-ist.  I don't dislike fat people, or any people.  I enjoy the company of many people who are comfortable in their own skin.  What I don't like is whiners. 

Especially whiners who have the power to change in their very own hands.

The last word on Gilmore

If it's true that NZ politics is a circus, then what does that make Aaron Gilmore?

You guessed it.

There's not mush room...

This series of images were taken in my backyard.  I'd like to present them as a tribute to all you employees who are subject to the "Mushroom" style of management (you're kept in the dark and fed bullshit).

Click the images to see a larger sized version. 

Isn't fungus amazing?