Monday, November 3, 2008
Thursday, October 30, 2008
airport
i like airports. there's a fair bit of waiting, but armed with a laptop and headphones i'm a happy chappy. with a myriad of destinations announced at close frequency, it feels like people are going places. and, well, they probably are. i like being in a constant flux, if that makes sense.
i like watching the little buggys zoom around the tarmac, loosely adhering to their own road rules and markings. my friend, once a baggage handler, was utterly busted by his boss for doing a burnout in a baggage buggy (possibly with luggage in tow); not at all due to the ridiculous turnaround time expected for baggage (un)loading - the figure of 7 minutes per flight comes to mind.
there's a guy sitting near me at the boarding gate who reminds me very much of a phd friend. he's ambiguously asian, and oozes collected cool. it nearly makes me miss my friends.
i must be bored: i'm talking crap.
i like watching the little buggys zoom around the tarmac, loosely adhering to their own road rules and markings. my friend, once a baggage handler, was utterly busted by his boss for doing a burnout in a baggage buggy (possibly with luggage in tow); not at all due to the ridiculous turnaround time expected for baggage (un)loading - the figure of 7 minutes per flight comes to mind.
there's a guy sitting near me at the boarding gate who reminds me very much of a phd friend. he's ambiguously asian, and oozes collected cool. it nearly makes me miss my friends.
i must be bored: i'm talking crap.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
time warp
i'm house-sitting for a friend, and it feels as though i've adopted someone else's life for a week. the 9-5 routine is an easy one to fall into, but i suspect it has the potential to suck time into voids, never to be seen again.
should i continue down this path, i have a feeling that i might wake up 30 years later, doing the same things as i am now, making the small incremental differences and wondering how i managed to achieve fuck all. that doesn't at all appeal, and it seems... mind-stiflingly boring?
should i continue down this path, i have a feeling that i might wake up 30 years later, doing the same things as i am now, making the small incremental differences and wondering how i managed to achieve fuck all. that doesn't at all appeal, and it seems... mind-stiflingly boring?
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
there is hope
i've just met with a really interesting guy here, sort of like an older version of me! it turns out you can go on phd nerd exchange, and organisations do support such placements despite the complete disinterest shown to me by my parent institution. he's been trying to encourage students, undergrad and postgrad, to travel and take academic and volunteer opportunities, but no fish are biting! i cannot believe nor understand this; if i was a student here i would have jumped before the starter pistol fired.
exchange is far too late for me now, but what i can do is just get up and go, take my cv, and hit the ground running with it. there's work abounds and without attachment to a parent organisation, which means more flexibility and less bureaucracy. and he knows people. i need no second invitation.
oh why didn't i meet this guy a few years ago?!
exchange is far too late for me now, but what i can do is just get up and go, take my cv, and hit the ground running with it. there's work abounds and without attachment to a parent organisation, which means more flexibility and less bureaucracy. and he knows people. i need no second invitation.
oh why didn't i meet this guy a few years ago?!
unimpresssed espresso
it's 10 to 9, and i am drinking the supposedly best espresso in this town; but i'm not convinced. it's tasty and gives me the hit that i need, but it's nothing special. although famed for being a cafe-culture town, i'm much more enamoured with the ridiculously nice hot chocolates. sitting in the middle of one of the many inner-city alleys with cafes bursting on the street, i watch people rush to get to wherever it is they need to be. they're mainly suits, with some student-types thrown in for some variety. trains evidently arrive every five minutes or so as the flux of people oscillates this frequently...
on the whole, people are well-dressed here. not necessarily dressed-up, but they evidently put some thought into attire and presentation. this has become a bit of a sore point for me recently as i have realised what bad fashion i have. but at the same time, i don't care enough to do anything about it.
i've made a list of the places i need to drink/eat at this week. inner-city convenience and relatively effective and cheap public transport is too tempting to not indulge in. so i only managed to con travel concession for three days, before the pigeons told me off but thankfully without financial repercussions.
i wonder how many hot chocolates i can consume in a week without making myself ill...
on the whole, people are well-dressed here. not necessarily dressed-up, but they evidently put some thought into attire and presentation. this has become a bit of a sore point for me recently as i have realised what bad fashion i have. but at the same time, i don't care enough to do anything about it.
i've made a list of the places i need to drink/eat at this week. inner-city convenience and relatively effective and cheap public transport is too tempting to not indulge in. so i only managed to con travel concession for three days, before the pigeons told me off but thankfully without financial repercussions.
i wonder how many hot chocolates i can consume in a week without making myself ill...
Thursday, October 16, 2008
url bandit
someone is toying with me. i made a typo trying to get to this blog, and look what happened: http://dereverb.blogpsot.com/
yech.
yech.
home bitter home
such a rude welcome home: hopping onto the airport train into town (note: i didn't call it downtown!), with a 15kg backpack on my back, a daypack on my front, and carrying a laptop, no one remotely budged to offer me a seat on the rush hour train. this happened on the train to the north shore too, not just on the airport line. i was slouching near a lady using a walking cane, who was also forced to stand by the neatly pressed suits with eyes down, clearly avoiding eye contact. at what point did simple courtesy or even basic manners escape the common commuter? the lady from aqis who confiscated my beef and turkey jerky was more friendly and humane than the knobs on the train.
it always strikes me when i come back from overseas, especially when returning from highly cultured and vibrant places in europe and asia, how stagnant it can be here. how and when did the daily grind get to people's spirits too? i'm not talking about the religious spirit (because there isn't one dammit) but just one's energy for life, to want to be alive and enjoy being on this planet. is this what life is really about, scowling on the morning train commute avoiding eye contact, or is this just what happens when life gets too comfortable with a nice medicare system and government pension awaiting you?
screw this. i'm heading south to the international arts festival for some vibes. i hear there's a production of shakespeare's romeo+juliet set in pizzerias, performed in lithuanian. food and the bard? yes please.
it always strikes me when i come back from overseas, especially when returning from highly cultured and vibrant places in europe and asia, how stagnant it can be here. how and when did the daily grind get to people's spirits too? i'm not talking about the religious spirit (because there isn't one dammit) but just one's energy for life, to want to be alive and enjoy being on this planet. is this what life is really about, scowling on the morning train commute avoiding eye contact, or is this just what happens when life gets too comfortable with a nice medicare system and government pension awaiting you?
screw this. i'm heading south to the international arts festival for some vibes. i hear there's a production of shakespeare's romeo+juliet set in pizzerias, performed in lithuanian. food and the bard? yes please.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
leaving las vegas
i really hate casinos, particularly so when the most stupid people in america (the world?) seem to congregate there. vegas is a seedy place, and what's worse is that it's proud to be. money talks, and that's about all that the town runs on. the casinos subsidise more than one can think of, including state income tax (or lack thereof)! dirty money?
there's a much better vegas in miniland, legoland. the same buildings (just slightly smaller), without the seedy factor although also minus the carbon-puffing flashy lights. all of miniland, though entirely us-focused, captured my attention, particularly mini-chinatown in san francisco...
there's a much better vegas in miniland, legoland. the same buildings (just slightly smaller), without the seedy factor although also minus the carbon-puffing flashy lights. all of miniland, though entirely us-focused, captured my attention, particularly mini-chinatown in san francisco...
Thursday, October 9, 2008
la di da
being in LA is akin to being in a really bad movie that i can't press the stop (or even pause) button on.
the LAPD really are an over-zealous lot: i've been here a day and a half and have seen two bomb squads, a truck fleet, multiple cars, helicopters, motorcycles, and bikes. i'm recalling that quite a few of the reality cop shows feature edgy LAPD officers, probably because they instigate enough action, even on the time-poor/lazy jaywalker, for a weekly half hour TV slot. i have yet to see SWAT and riot police (on horseback) though, but there is still the rest of the week to go.
hollywood is literally around the corner from the not-so-affluent mexican area. as soon as you turn into hollywood boulevard, it is instantly a different world of shiny lights, hints of the oscars, celebrity stars and foot/handprints, gawking tourists, and street performers (out of work actors?) posing as marilyn monroe, captain jack sparrow, charlie chaplin, and even spiderman. i don't know how people can live in such (ethnic) segregation; the boundaries between neighbourhoods are invisible but extremely clearly defined.
parts of downtown are interesting though, due to the mexican influence. it's got a bit of life to it, rather than the (materialistic) glamour and image that seems to plague other parts of the county. i'm impressed with the food and friendly locals, and i love the mexican gear that fills the (touristy) market. i don't even know what i ate and drank but damn it was good. and after hand signalling with a shop assistant who spoke to me only in spanish, i have learnt about the mexican version of bingo.
santa monica is overrated. sure, forrest gump may have made it there, but in reality it houses a touristy pier and beaches full of locals exercising madly or hooning by in their expensive cars blaring bad music. there's also an interestingly high percentage of mentally-odd characters. but, and this shows my age and bad taste, the lifeguard gear in baywatch looked remarkably like those on the beaches i saw today. a friend did say that the america featured on tv is mostly in LA, and i'm finding this to be an alarmingly true statement: baywatch, hollywood, LAPD (highway patrol!), and the original beverly hills (90210). i'm not going to orange county to see how accurate the OC is, i've seen enough affluent caucasian neighbourhoods.
i'm being dragged kicking and screaming to vegas tomorrow. it's the bribe (and supposed stopover) for the grand canyon, which is what i do want to see. i'm going to cause trouble in vegas, or run around in the desert and chase tumbleweeds, just to get away from rampant money spinning.
but, LA is not all completely rotten with spaghetti freeways and one-person cars: the bus driver to santa monica (on the number 10 from downtown), was the best driver i have ever come across. not for his motoring skills, but for his character and personality: saying hello and goodbye to every passenger, greeting regulars like one would greet a long lost friend (hugs and all), and politely defusing a sticky situation between a crazy man and a stubborn young lady. his cheery demeanour made the long trip to the coast worthwhile...
the LAPD really are an over-zealous lot: i've been here a day and a half and have seen two bomb squads, a truck fleet, multiple cars, helicopters, motorcycles, and bikes. i'm recalling that quite a few of the reality cop shows feature edgy LAPD officers, probably because they instigate enough action, even on the time-poor/lazy jaywalker, for a weekly half hour TV slot. i have yet to see SWAT and riot police (on horseback) though, but there is still the rest of the week to go.
hollywood is literally around the corner from the not-so-affluent mexican area. as soon as you turn into hollywood boulevard, it is instantly a different world of shiny lights, hints of the oscars, celebrity stars and foot/handprints, gawking tourists, and street performers (out of work actors?) posing as marilyn monroe, captain jack sparrow, charlie chaplin, and even spiderman. i don't know how people can live in such (ethnic) segregation; the boundaries between neighbourhoods are invisible but extremely clearly defined.
parts of downtown are interesting though, due to the mexican influence. it's got a bit of life to it, rather than the (materialistic) glamour and image that seems to plague other parts of the county. i'm impressed with the food and friendly locals, and i love the mexican gear that fills the (touristy) market. i don't even know what i ate and drank but damn it was good. and after hand signalling with a shop assistant who spoke to me only in spanish, i have learnt about the mexican version of bingo.
santa monica is overrated. sure, forrest gump may have made it there, but in reality it houses a touristy pier and beaches full of locals exercising madly or hooning by in their expensive cars blaring bad music. there's also an interestingly high percentage of mentally-odd characters. but, and this shows my age and bad taste, the lifeguard gear in baywatch looked remarkably like those on the beaches i saw today. a friend did say that the america featured on tv is mostly in LA, and i'm finding this to be an alarmingly true statement: baywatch, hollywood, LAPD (highway patrol!), and the original beverly hills (90210). i'm not going to orange county to see how accurate the OC is, i've seen enough affluent caucasian neighbourhoods.
i'm being dragged kicking and screaming to vegas tomorrow. it's the bribe (and supposed stopover) for the grand canyon, which is what i do want to see. i'm going to cause trouble in vegas, or run around in the desert and chase tumbleweeds, just to get away from rampant money spinning.
but, LA is not all completely rotten with spaghetti freeways and one-person cars: the bus driver to santa monica (on the number 10 from downtown), was the best driver i have ever come across. not for his motoring skills, but for his character and personality: saying hello and goodbye to every passenger, greeting regulars like one would greet a long lost friend (hugs and all), and politely defusing a sticky situation between a crazy man and a stubborn young lady. his cheery demeanour made the long trip to the coast worthwhile...
Sunday, October 5, 2008
cowboys
denver is weird. the people really love obama. in the past four hours of wandering around downtown i have been approached by at least five people asking if i have registered to vote. one guy at the university of colorado, even upon learning that i was australian and thus unable to exercise my democratic actions on his soil, insisted that i take obama posters with me back home. whilst continuing my tertiary education tour of the country, i ran into a celtic dancing competition (for kids?) at uc; quite odd indeed.
obama fanatics aside, there are a lot of homeless people here, idling lonely on the numerous park benches littered about town. people seem to like to sit around and chat, watch other people, or simply loiter. it's a little weird sometimes.
and there are cowboys! i wasn't actually expecting any, but there was one at the airport, in a cowboy hat with a horse saddle in tow. and, there are metro-cowboys scattered around town, especially in the cowboy store i found in 'lodo'. and, if you've subjected yourself to the movie 'coyote ugly', it's actually a real bar in downtown denver. yikes.
there aren't many asians here. lots of mexicans, caucasian americans, africans, and african-americans. some people gave me odd looks. but maybe that was because i was wearing a nerdy shirt. is open solaris not cool?
obama fanatics aside, there are a lot of homeless people here, idling lonely on the numerous park benches littered about town. people seem to like to sit around and chat, watch other people, or simply loiter. it's a little weird sometimes.
and there are cowboys! i wasn't actually expecting any, but there was one at the airport, in a cowboy hat with a horse saddle in tow. and, there are metro-cowboys scattered around town, especially in the cowboy store i found in 'lodo'. and, if you've subjected yourself to the movie 'coyote ugly', it's actually a real bar in downtown denver. yikes.
there aren't many asians here. lots of mexicans, caucasian americans, africans, and african-americans. some people gave me odd looks. but maybe that was because i was wearing a nerdy shirt. is open solaris not cool?
Friday, October 3, 2008
vice pres
as a visitor to the states that are united, i could not say no to watching the vice presidental debate live with a group of locals. and here's the live blog for it...
both parties don't support same-sex marriage, but have variable views on civil rights?! palin, you talk but your words are ridiculous. now i'm getting cranky over your tirade on iraq and fighting (supposed) insurgents. please learn to be succinct!!
so the locals think palin is doing better than they thought (or hoped!); damn she must have previously sounded like a true fool... i'm personally impressed with biden: composed, calm, and delivers a sound, at times crushing, argument against the verbose palin.
nuclear arms and pakistan. now you're on about iraq, iran, and israel as well. oh now north korea and the castro brothers?! palin! stop dropping proper nouns and answer the stupid question.
two-state solution? ally with israel? second holocaust?! are you just sensationalising? oh so you both love israel. awwwww. nice, tight and strong response from biden though: indeed there isn't a clear deviation from bush's current policies. nice one. palin, why are you back onto north korea?
i have to say palin is talking very well, so long as you don't actually listen to nor think about what she's saying. she looks like she knows what she's talking about. good eye contact with the camera, biden at times lacks.
ooooo... labeling as an interventionist... interesting distinction by biden on action in sudan versus intervention. so you both somewhat agree, with the matter of alaskan oil funds thrown in. interesting response. we're back on bin laden. again.
how did we get onto wall st corruption and the working class family? from bin laden and varying opinions in each administration? palin, what planet are you on? ooooo... killing jobs and the economy. scary.
doggone it? smooth, palin. and now she's personalising education. clever unless you can see through it. there's some groaning and head smacking in the lounge room right now.
energy independence? families with special needs children? focus, palin, focus!
oooo... heartland of america?! working mother? working families? very rudd-esque. sweet response from biden, even personalised just like plain likes to. palin, would you please stop saying maverick?? oh biden don't take on palin's maverick addiction, please.
oh you're going to fight for the average american family. i'm touched. fight for your freedom: economic and national security. that's a lot of fighting. and you mean literally as well as metaphorically.
i think i like the mediator best.
both parties don't support same-sex marriage, but have variable views on civil rights?! palin, you talk but your words are ridiculous. now i'm getting cranky over your tirade on iraq and fighting (supposed) insurgents. please learn to be succinct!!
so the locals think palin is doing better than they thought (or hoped!); damn she must have previously sounded like a true fool... i'm personally impressed with biden: composed, calm, and delivers a sound, at times crushing, argument against the verbose palin.
nuclear arms and pakistan. now you're on about iraq, iran, and israel as well. oh now north korea and the castro brothers?! palin! stop dropping proper nouns and answer the stupid question.
two-state solution? ally with israel? second holocaust?! are you just sensationalising? oh so you both love israel. awwwww. nice, tight and strong response from biden though: indeed there isn't a clear deviation from bush's current policies. nice one. palin, why are you back onto north korea?
i have to say palin is talking very well, so long as you don't actually listen to nor think about what she's saying. she looks like she knows what she's talking about. good eye contact with the camera, biden at times lacks.
ooooo... labeling as an interventionist... interesting distinction by biden on action in sudan versus intervention. so you both somewhat agree, with the matter of alaskan oil funds thrown in. interesting response. we're back on bin laden. again.
how did we get onto wall st corruption and the working class family? from bin laden and varying opinions in each administration? palin, what planet are you on? ooooo... killing jobs and the economy. scary.
doggone it? smooth, palin. and now she's personalising education. clever unless you can see through it. there's some groaning and head smacking in the lounge room right now.
energy independence? families with special needs children? focus, palin, focus!
oooo... heartland of america?! working mother? working families? very rudd-esque. sweet response from biden, even personalised just like plain likes to. palin, would you please stop saying maverick?? oh biden don't take on palin's maverick addiction, please.
oh you're going to fight for the average american family. i'm touched. fight for your freedom: economic and national security. that's a lot of fighting. and you mean literally as well as metaphorically.
i think i like the mediator best.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
toad in silicon valley
so i kinda like it here in the bay: it oozes variety, vibe, food, and culture. i love how little italy is across the street from chinatown (coffee and cake followed by yum cha?), and that even though the public transport is quite efficient and effective, bikes zip in and out of traffic. riders are duly respected: there is ample bike parking around the place, on buses, and on the trains. the people are just so friendly it throws me off a little, from the bus/tram drivers to shop assistants and locals on the street. i'm not used to courtesy.
off to silicon valley today to see what the mothership is up to, and on the morning commute in, you can tell that most work in the valley of si: there's a certain look and feel that seems to come hand in hand. after getting lost amongst the sandwiches of tech corp buildings, the mothership looks fun and pretty on the surface; but scratch the epidermis and it might bleed. i ask about the changing culture and it is indeed an growing hierarchy. but perhaps if it's fun enough it won't matter? gadgets and gidgets galore; the (unnervingly) happy people mingle in with the laundry, swimming pool, gym, cafes of free food, volleyball court, and soccer field. as nice as the folks are, it's an insular family. keep them comfortable to keep them in? people walk around with laptops as one would walk a pet dog...
i visit stanford to have a look see and am very impressed with their vibe (love the bikes!), and blown away by a book of > 200 pages of lecture notes on the fourier transform. delivered for a 2nd year subject, i doubt our 4th years could understand the depth of material; some of it is beyond me too. i can see what a difference a good institution can make: it's not just about how smart you are. tertiary education taught properly, combined with the innovative attitude of the folks on the mothership, is really refreshing and uplifting. on the mothership, to be allowed and encouraged to voice random ideas amongst intelligent people without automatically waiting for the 'lack of funding' or 'it's too hard' or 'i don't care' response, was an experience that occurs far too rarely for me. it's far too stagnant at home, intellectually and otherwise. that's extremely clear to me now.
back in the bay, i've been here less than 60 hours and i can hear that i sound different; i might actually be hearing my own accent! i've had to pick up a local accent so the locals can understand what i'm saying. hopefully the accent doesn't stick...
off to silicon valley today to see what the mothership is up to, and on the morning commute in, you can tell that most work in the valley of si: there's a certain look and feel that seems to come hand in hand. after getting lost amongst the sandwiches of tech corp buildings, the mothership looks fun and pretty on the surface; but scratch the epidermis and it might bleed. i ask about the changing culture and it is indeed an growing hierarchy. but perhaps if it's fun enough it won't matter? gadgets and gidgets galore; the (unnervingly) happy people mingle in with the laundry, swimming pool, gym, cafes of free food, volleyball court, and soccer field. as nice as the folks are, it's an insular family. keep them comfortable to keep them in? people walk around with laptops as one would walk a pet dog...
i visit stanford to have a look see and am very impressed with their vibe (love the bikes!), and blown away by a book of > 200 pages of lecture notes on the fourier transform. delivered for a 2nd year subject, i doubt our 4th years could understand the depth of material; some of it is beyond me too. i can see what a difference a good institution can make: it's not just about how smart you are. tertiary education taught properly, combined with the innovative attitude of the folks on the mothership, is really refreshing and uplifting. on the mothership, to be allowed and encouraged to voice random ideas amongst intelligent people without automatically waiting for the 'lack of funding' or 'it's too hard' or 'i don't care' response, was an experience that occurs far too rarely for me. it's far too stagnant at home, intellectually and otherwise. that's extremely clear to me now.
back in the bay, i've been here less than 60 hours and i can hear that i sound different; i might actually be hearing my own accent! i've had to pick up a local accent so the locals can understand what i'm saying. hopefully the accent doesn't stick...
Saturday, September 20, 2008
cattle branding
how and when did a tech company become a brand? why is it such a novelty, commanding girly shrieks of joy and a flurry of photos, to see big logos, t-shirts, pens, notebooks, or anything stamped with said brand? "oh it's so cool!" is the catchphrase that even i feel forced to emit just to maintain a semblance of (fake) enthusiasm for group inclusion (shame on me). but in reality, i'm unimpressed, uninspired, and even aghast: are you really this easily bought?
i'm here for the ideals, philosophy, and activism, not for the kudos and cute gadgets. i refuse to be branded. i refuse to participate in branding. people offered me a branded shirt for the photos: thanks but no thanks. is this not free advertising with not-so-subtle sales pitches thrown in? good intentions, yes, lovely people, yes, but i have to question the (corporate) kickbacks. do we return home as glorified salespeople unwittingly masqueraded as 'ambassadors'? very clever and cheap marketing, say my pessimism and cynicism.
if this were really about tech, we wouldn't just be discussing computers, and within that realm, only software. it's not all about programming! some people see this, some adamantly don't. the biggest chasm i see is a complete ignorance of hardware: without hardware, software does not exist. these mentalities and narrow-minded, boxed attitudes of some are what keeps our industry and its members dry and boring. how big is your world, really?
it's all about perspective: whilst you orgasm over the free food and games, the rest of the world continues to crash and burn. it is a big bubble here, where all creature comforts are provided for. the bubble sucks people in and keeps them comfortably engaged; no need to think too hard about about what they do (in a philosophical sense) versus what they could be doing with their intelligence and skills. the company culture attracts a certain type of person, which is probably why everyone seems to get along so well superficially (like the happy christians).
i feel more determined than ever to continue being an impractical idealist living in the big bad world; you cannot buy nor put blinders on me. but, maybe i'm analysing and thinking too much and i've just forgotten how to have fun. or maybe this isn't fun, maybe it's the price paid for selling my soul.
i'm here for the ideals, philosophy, and activism, not for the kudos and cute gadgets. i refuse to be branded. i refuse to participate in branding. people offered me a branded shirt for the photos: thanks but no thanks. is this not free advertising with not-so-subtle sales pitches thrown in? good intentions, yes, lovely people, yes, but i have to question the (corporate) kickbacks. do we return home as glorified salespeople unwittingly masqueraded as 'ambassadors'? very clever and cheap marketing, say my pessimism and cynicism.
if this were really about tech, we wouldn't just be discussing computers, and within that realm, only software. it's not all about programming! some people see this, some adamantly don't. the biggest chasm i see is a complete ignorance of hardware: without hardware, software does not exist. these mentalities and narrow-minded, boxed attitudes of some are what keeps our industry and its members dry and boring. how big is your world, really?
it's all about perspective: whilst you orgasm over the free food and games, the rest of the world continues to crash and burn. it is a big bubble here, where all creature comforts are provided for. the bubble sucks people in and keeps them comfortably engaged; no need to think too hard about about what they do (in a philosophical sense) versus what they could be doing with their intelligence and skills. the company culture attracts a certain type of person, which is probably why everyone seems to get along so well superficially (like the happy christians).
i feel more determined than ever to continue being an impractical idealist living in the big bad world; you cannot buy nor put blinders on me. but, maybe i'm analysing and thinking too much and i've just forgotten how to have fun. or maybe this isn't fun, maybe it's the price paid for selling my soul.
Friday, September 5, 2008
laptop $$$
i'd really like to understand how dell derive their pricing schedules:
inspirons in .au:
inspirons in .us:
15" products are comparably priced, and au doesn't even get the 14" model, but the latest inspirons in 9"and 13" form, are almost twice the price in au compared to the us! will the new inspirons drop in price over time in au i wonder...
update: this is what i have been looking for!
http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/ports/releases/hardy/release/
oh i am a happy nerd right now - why do they hide such things?!
inspirons in .au:
inspirons in .us:
15" products are comparably priced, and au doesn't even get the 14" model, but the latest inspirons in 9"and 13" form, are almost twice the price in au compared to the us! will the new inspirons drop in price over time in au i wonder...
update: this is what i have been looking for!
http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/ports/releases/hardy/release/
oh i am a happy nerd right now - why do they hide such things?!
Thursday, September 4, 2008
seven or nine?
um, who the fuck cares about this kid's tantys?
shame on you fairfax, for emulating the daily telegraph. did you surreptitiously replace some decent journos (whilst on strike) with scabs pinched from seven and/or nine's trashy mags?
and, what is the mca up to these days? heads up? mine will stay down in the books, methinks.
shame on you fairfax, for emulating the daily telegraph. did you surreptitiously replace some decent journos (whilst on strike) with scabs pinched from seven and/or nine's trashy mags?
and, what is the mca up to these days? heads up? mine will stay down in the books, methinks.
i see red
oh why wasn't the red report my bedtime story two months ago?! looks good, but i find it all very contrary, to be honest: some high-ups at my institution are very involved in the reports and yet, it's notably difficult, from the bottom up perspective, to actually get accurate numbers of and information about casual academics at my institution.
it's encouraging and interesting that such a report has been commissioned at this time (in relation to enterprise bargaining) and even more intriguing that higher ed institutions are partaking in such studies but steadfastly refusing to actually do anything about the effects of increasingly casualised tertiary teaching. at street level it is very much hush-hush, with conditions and employment subject to the whims of each faculty, and the entire process is generally swept under the table (financially and otherwise).
this disparity between the clouds and the dirt was present before, during and continues after the report: i had a hand in reviewing my institution's draft casual academic policy late last year, and it was so ambiguous that it left us all ripe for abuse (most decisions were left at faculty level with no provision for policing!) . but at least they have a (voluntarily introduced) policy, and today my school passed it's own policy completely on the initiative of one staff member! so maybe things are looking up?
perhaps, but unfortunately, at the end of the day, it's the numbers, not policies (nor numbers of policies!) that do the talking. so until we get our hands on some numerical evidence it may prove difficult to change my institution's attitude towards and treatment of casual academics. maybe the statistical hardships are a 'feature' and perhaps a 'privilege' of my being at said institution but hey, i like a challenge. a thorn i shall continue to be...
it's encouraging and interesting that such a report has been commissioned at this time (in relation to enterprise bargaining) and even more intriguing that higher ed institutions are partaking in such studies but steadfastly refusing to actually do anything about the effects of increasingly casualised tertiary teaching. at street level it is very much hush-hush, with conditions and employment subject to the whims of each faculty, and the entire process is generally swept under the table (financially and otherwise).
this disparity between the clouds and the dirt was present before, during and continues after the report: i had a hand in reviewing my institution's draft casual academic policy late last year, and it was so ambiguous that it left us all ripe for abuse (most decisions were left at faculty level with no provision for policing!) . but at least they have a (voluntarily introduced) policy, and today my school passed it's own policy completely on the initiative of one staff member! so maybe things are looking up?
perhaps, but unfortunately, at the end of the day, it's the numbers, not policies (nor numbers of policies!) that do the talking. so until we get our hands on some numerical evidence it may prove difficult to change my institution's attitude towards and treatment of casual academics. maybe the statistical hardships are a 'feature' and perhaps a 'privilege' of my being at said institution but hey, i like a challenge. a thorn i shall continue to be...
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
recycled paper
just to get published at a local conference organised by the latest ass he has decided to pucker up to, my supervisor asked me to write up a quick paper today, and it doesn't even have to be remotely reasonable! in fact, he suggested that i just rehash one of my rejected papers, all of which i have mentally locked away in a cupboard and thrown away the key because they are fundamentally flawed in some way. and, this all happened in the staff tea room, for all and sundry to witness and hear; these whisperings are not clandestine!
fuck. i need get out of here. the phrase blatantly unethical comes to mind but i can't be bothered fighting weak (black) sheep.
fuck. i need get out of here. the phrase blatantly unethical comes to mind but i can't be bothered fighting weak (black) sheep.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
brain: please stop
i've just had one of those personal revelations. this time, about why i facilitate so much... for others. hooley dooley. self-reflection hurts. it's time to let the avoidance tendencies kick in. as usual. ow.
!(yak yak yak)
does anyone else find it rude that people talk through someone's gig?? it's excusable in say, a pub or club environment where the music is understood by performer and audience to be a secondary amusement. sure, commenting to your friends about the gig is cool, but don't go and hold a friggin' group conversation: when multiplicatively executed amongst a crowd squished into a small space, sound pressure levels are cumulatively loud enough to disturb the performance!! when you've paid to see/hear a gig, please show some respect for the performer and those around you and SHUT THE FUCK UP! thank you.
update: the good thing out of that gig is that my friend might have picked up a friend of a friend... :)
update: the good thing out of that gig is that my friend might have picked up a friend of a friend... :)
Saturday, August 30, 2008
my foolish mind
ever since the collapse of my supervisor's empire upon his graceful exit, and now the restructure of our ridiculously useless parent research group, i've been trying to convince my peers to jump ship and follow our professor emperor. it's too late for me to transfer on paper but fuck, i hadn't considered just physically moving south with my sexy audio gear whilst leaving the paper trail here!
i am such an idiot sometimes (most of the time?): trying to save the labrats from lack of funding and quality supervision but neglecting my own (sinking) ship of fools...
i am such an idiot sometimes (most of the time?): trying to save the labrats from lack of funding and quality supervision but neglecting my own (sinking) ship of fools...
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