bjd: January 2002

PS I have a guest book use it.... please.

Well the meeting went well - and i thought there was not too much talking about the same stuff, we even managed to stay on subject most of the time too. I love these meetings as I look at the guys who I knew when they were 12 and now having an active part in the running of things. I talked about personal holiness and how we need to be focused on this ourselves and encouraging one another to it as well. I know this is an issue i have, and maybe I am just projecting - but to share with the Boys a relationship with God then you need to have one yourself - and when that relationship is poor then that is what you share, a healthy relationship with God is what we need to share. And anyway when you read what Jesus had to say he pulled no punches about getting out their and stirring things up for God - something I need to do so much more.

Sometimes the hardest thing about being a leader is wondering if what you do is all worth it [and I mean the great times not just the bad]. The best thing about being a leader in a Christian organisation is the knowledge that it IS all worthwhile - and worthwhile not just now but forever.

Hi James [i found out he was a regular reader]

Not even the end of the first week and I'm wiped out. The new head teacher isn't too bad - although he has no respect for macs - which is a shame since that is most of what we have. Today the word "separate" caused a bit of a dispute - I don't want separate systems which people can't access cross platform - unfortunately i think he thought I had no idea of the term load sharing and proceeded to explain why we needed separate systems - except he meant separate servers - one for kids one for staff - a good idea - so long as they are both accessible from Mac and PC. Of course today that is easy to do - back when we choose Mac servers it was much harder and Mac servers were better for cross platform file sharing. The story is that Win2000 is capable for apple file sharing - something I need to check out carefully. I am sure that our new head teacher wants to change us across to WinTel - but I don't see the need.

Leaders meeting tonight - dealing with people is the last thing I feel like tonight - but it should be good to get together and discuss what we want to do and how we are going to do it - well, that's the theory anyway. Tomorrow is Friday and *THAT* is a very good thing.

Well, I laughed.

ZDNet Australia: News & Tech: Communications: Telstra busted rigging user surveys - these guys better be careful - they will be the first up against the wall when the revolution comes.

Cars - even the simplest job can become a nigthmare. All we had to do was swap a working battery from my current car [old grey] with the non working battery of my older car [big red]. Tools anyone? was the first problem. then getting the bonnet [hood] open [which would haunt us later] anyway we eventually got the battery from old grey into big red. It started first time!!!! OK things going good. Moved big red. Part One sucess.

Now lets get the battery out of big red and back into old grey - oh oh, the big red bonnet won't open - no matter how I try, no matter how much blood flows it just won't open. OK let's jump start old grey with the dead big red battery in it - I'll have a shower while it recharges and then we can get on with every thing else. Ok. Well that all works. I drove off to get lunch. Return to old grey and it won't start! Dead flat. Damm. So call up steve who resuces me. Go about the rest of my day cursing big red's bonnet.

Got home about 9pm. Worked out how to get old grey's battery out of big red. Got Rob to drive me over to Seven Hills shops to pick up old grey. Swap batteries back. Old Grey almost starts but not quite. Check leads and try again. Rob notices sparks on negative terminal so tighten and try again - even worse - close but no cigar. Send rob back to get wire brush - maybe too much corsion on teminal. I tighten terminal again - it works:)

Cars! Thanks Rob for helping - damm you big red and your bonnet for causing all this trouble.

It's cloudy at times here in Toongabbie land. I have just spent time out watching the moon and chilling with God. I listened to Jesus Freak by dcTalk and praised my God and spoke with Him about stuff going on in my life. It's been a while since I have just sat outside and spent time talking to God about things and it was excellent.

Speedway was on tonight - I need to glossary hey - that is if anyone reads this and cares. Why do we do this anyway? Why relate in anyway at all? I know these are not amazingly new questions and all, but tonight I am just thinking about them. Actually what got me thinking was why do we like certain music and not others. Frinstance - I love Ska, why? Is it just because my mates at highschool were in a band? I dunno.

You know, without God there is no real reason to relate - I'm no anthro or evolutionary scientist but there is no reason for us to relate like we do [different in nature from other animals] - take other animals, insects whatever are successful without it. We relate because God does - He is 3 in 1, a triune God, equal in all ways and yet separate in all ways - Father Son and Spirit is how He has explained himself to us. So before anything else there was God, relating to Himself. And us being made in His image then we relate. I can't think of a direct biblical reason for the music thing though.

Now this item from CORE - Oceanian Nerd Newscast about - Gap Games Multiplayer Facility sounds like the place to be.

Got this link from Penny Arcade to another comic whose latest storyline begins there. I laughed, maybe you will too.

The only way to rate a game is by the Crate Review System - the longer it takes to find one the better the game. A bit old but very funny.

WA guys have gone home. Rob, Kylie and Steve are over - we are all on the net - talking to other people! What a strange world we live in. Actually they are also talking to each other as well. Less than a week and it's back to work. Feeling a bit uncertain as to what this year holds with the arrival of a new Head teacher and me teaching maths again [yr 7 and 9] the guy seems ok but you never know until after a while.

The WA guys were cool they played Quake and Myth and surfed the net basically the whole time they were here - they also managed to break a chair - but that's fine.

A look back in time - thanks to houghdy who shared this list of firsts related to the net. [from Google]

I give up - HTML and me and blogg just aint mixing - the last post - which I now can't edit cos of messing up a link! - should have said let me know [bjd@bjd.au.com] if the include doesn't work, and then a comment realising that if the include didn't work then you wouldn't be able to tell me. But of course the link didn't work and so my blogg entry is messed up and nothing came out.

Also CAMs to get a make over and move - Kylie Kam becomes Sink Spy and moves to bjd.au.com/cam2 whilst cam.bjd becomes /cam and moves to bjd.au.com/cam - ohh is that why you choose that name.....

So just a few changes to upset the few people who visit me. I will be listing the cams on a few cam lists and maybe I will get a few new vistors - or not

Well, no Quake :(

However I did finally get the blogg to include in my front page - I have used SSI - please posted by Me The B at 9:21 PM

Got back from Canberra to see the guys at PA Camp. Went with Kylie. Great day. Guys had all had a great time, although they did look a bit tired.

Missing Quake hopefully will get a game in tonight. Although an early night wouldn't go astray either. But hey Quake is more fun - as they say "you can sleep when you're dead".

Friday, January 18, 2002

Ever wondered what colour the universe is well the Colour is ... strangely iMac coloured ;)

Robs Place check it out, he's still redecorating so drop by a few times over the next few weeks.

Just got back from Sonfest - a great day - Reliant K [too short but great fun], Skillet [cool live think I might just buy that album], Eli [interesting lyrics, soulful, reflectful, says some strange things and expresses himself better in his music] OC Supertones [YEAH!!! I have waited so long to skank to them and finally got the chance - read from Titus 3 as well - fantastic, if I had the money I'd fly to their next show and see them again, played an hour and felt I got it all but more would not go wrong - older stuff better to skank to but, as they say, it was all good] day , well night ended with Delirous [not bad at all, lyrics awesome from what I could pick up, powerful, emotive time of rockin' and praising and worshipping God] Houghdy went with me and made it a great day.

Rob has done an awesome job of looking after the house - thanks rob - almost as if he was never there.

Off to Canberra to visit the Boys at PA Camp open day - hopefully they are all better now and recovered from their sicknesses.

Thursday, January 17, 2002

Last day at mum's will be heading home at about 4pm dropping in on some friends on the way home.

Yesterday went to see Ocean's 11 and LOTR. 11 was okay - the ending seemed a bit weak. Having watched the orginal the night before I enjoyed the new version which was similar in the main story but different enough to stand alone. I was disappointed that the new one didn't have a twist at the end like the orginal.

LOTR - this was my second viewing and I preferred it - the print was of much better quality than the first. I loved the books and it's exploration of the heart of men and temptation. The only thing that felt wrong was that Borimor [can;t remember the spelling] didn't seem as big as I thought he was from my reading of the books.

Still overcast down here. But the sun does peek through occassionally.

With about 12 days to go before I return to work the pace of life will increase markedly once I get back home.

Tim H and Steve are sick at PA Camp - some virus has been doing the rounds. James told me that the rally they had two nights ago was awesome - I can't wait to hear more about what was said.

Tomorrow is Sonfest as Christian music Big Day Out - I am looking forward to it heaps.

Tuesday, January 15, 2002

The day began nice enough but now the rain is pouring down. Typical the Sapphire Coast my butt, how about the Grey Coast. Apparently it's something to do with anyone from Sydney visiting my Mum's place - we all bring the rain down.

The Boys at PA Camp are having a ball - Tim Ashley is in a bucket hat! James Noble is having fun and lots of it [despite sore buttocks}, Steve rang me but left no message and Tim Holmes has been sick today. As for B2 he was always the quiet one.

Dropped in on my Uncle Bob and AUnty Ruth - well just Ruth actually. Can't remember the last time I saw them - maybe 10 years or so. Only a brief visit - nice place, will a great view, and a Mac [5500] - which has raised their standing heaps - of course being a photographer Ruth knows that there is nothing else to use but a Mac.

Well the rain falls down and dinner bekons. Tomorow is movie day with Mum - off to see Lord Of The Rings [we both love SCI-FI and Tolkien so this was a must do event] and then Ocean's 11 - we saw the original last night so we will see how the new one matches up - I hope it has a bit more pace than the Sinatra/Martin Rat Pack version.

Monday, January 14, 2002

Been looking for daily PA Camp updates but they don't have any onsite web access and so no updates :(

A lovely day watching the waves roll in lies ahead of me - relaxing at Mums.

Sunday, January 13, 2002

PA Camp is a national gathering of Boys' Brigaders which occurs once every three years. This years camp is on right now down in Canberra the nations capital. We have 4 Boys and one Officer down there having a great time. A big HI to all the guys down there I am sure they will having an awesome time. I will be dropping in for open day to hear the tales of adventure which are such a large part of the multifacted jewel which is a PA Camp.

Rob told us at Speedway last night that the church map is proceeding very very nicely. I can't wait for it to be finished.

I was reading someone's online journal - and they compare their Epson InkJet to an old contakerous mower - and I know just what he means. Mine has currently decided to pretend that it was out of ink completely and then without me doing anything just started printing again when I forgot and told it print!!!! They are strange things - the thing I hate most about my Epson SC 440 is that when it decides to get stuck in an error mode then it won't turn off! Yep the off button doens't work - now in a the world of SCI-FI that would mean the end of the world as we know it - but the trusty power cord is available and I just unplugg the sucker and TA-DA!!! humans win again over the evil machines. Oh and the other thing which annoys me is that Epson hasn't written any drivers for it in OSX :(

Oh and BTW it's a very nice day downunder - even if a bit windy.

Don't mention the war!

Saturday, January 12, 2002

Speedway tonight - we do the parking at the Parramatta City Raceway to raise money for ourselves but also for the Boys' Brigade company. It's an alright way to earn money and the guys get to go in for free and watch the speedway - people are funny I rekon that the definition of optimist must be the man who arrives right on start time and drives past all the cars parked in the street then pulls up opposite me leaning on the sign that clearly says CAR PARK FULL and then asks "any room inside!" - sometimes I just want to do a John Cleese and rant and rave - posted by Me The B at 11:45 PM

Friday, January 11, 2002

Well no closer to getting this integrated into my site - I am supposed to have a php3 server with my hosting deal but it doesn't seem to work - well the include doesn't that is, although Dreamweaver shows it working [so it thinks that the HTML is right] when placed on my server nothing happens. I will just leave the link on the current page and fix it in a weeks time. Off to my Mums for the next few days and then dropping in on the guys at PA Camp.

The church map is progressing very nicely - Rob is doing an awesome job. I still have dreams for my map and ideas on how I want to change it - but it's in a playable form and whilst not a classic enjoyable. Rob's church map - will, of course and quite rightly be a classic.

Tuesday, January 08, 2002

Don't you hate that, you know you're tired, you can feel the tiredness in your eyes and head, but just can't go to sleep. Played a bit of Red Faction and caught up on the sites and comics. Now I think I will try again. The phone has rung once for steve and now his mobile is ringing. I don't want to hit the day yet - but I think it may have other plans.

Imagine something that took 2 years to make, is graceful, stylish and will redefine its genre, engages you visually and emotionally - I'm not talking about a movie I am talking about the new iMac which Apple has revealed today. Check out the Apple site - you have to see it to believe it. But it's so much more than looks [although I guess Apple will once again hide the fact that it is such a kick ass machine].

Rock solid OS based on Free BSD unix, top of the range version has a chip which is about the same as a 1.2 GHz P4, also has a drive which lets you read and write CD and DVD, comes free with softeware what lets you make movies [iMovie - used it, it is VERY easy and for a free product does everything most people need], manage playlists [iTunes - synchs with MP3 players and burns CDs], create DVD [iDVD - never used it but looks as easy as the other two - and lets you make very professional looking DVD's] and also manage your photos [iPhoto - Shoot, Organise Share - treates photos as easy as iTunes treats music, lets you publish albums to the web, lets you order prints from Kodak and even a photo album book style in 6 different formats and with your own text and design elements]. As well as a word processor, spreadsheet and database program [AppleWorks]

Absolutely awesome! Apple once again have set the new standard for PC and cemented their position as the BMW or Porshe or the computer industry.

Anyway, it's 6am now and I think I'll just grab a couple of more hours sleep before hitting the day.

Last Sunday we played my new quake map and I got a positive response, it's not finished yet, and I will probably keep on working on it during the holidays. Rain last night has eased the fire threat just a little in the Blue Mountains but lot of fires are still burning around the state.

Sunday, January 06, 2002

So much for "the next few days I should finish it off" - making maps for Quake has taken hold here in Nerdsville Toongabbie. I bought Quiver and so now I can export the .map file and convert it into a Q3 map. It's a pain cos I have to map the textures from Q1 into Q3. I also can't work out how to get Quiver to map jump pads - although I think I have the teleporter licked.

The fires continue around the edges of metropolitan sydney. Praise God for the fireys and the lessons they learnt in 1994. This is the worst set of fires ever in Australia since white settlement noticed them. 14 days now and another week or more to go. I thank God that no lives have been lost and property loss has been kept to a minimum.

Steve is back from down the south coast and so there is a person in the house again - this is good - it's funny how you get used to the noises of a person in the house and when they are not there it can be very off putting. It's been a loing time since I had a night of being freaked out [happened a couple of times when I first moved out and lived alone] - things are pretty benign in Toongabbie.

I might work on the new site over the next few days - even if it is just to include this blog into the current format of the page.

cheers.

Wednesday, January 02, 2002

I can't believe that almost a week has gone by - I guess that being on holidays and living on gaming time [3am bedtime 12noon breakfast] might just have a little to do with it. Happy New Year. Had the gang around last night for NYE - we did pause Quake long enough to do the Happy New Year thing before getting back into fragging.

Just finished watching most of Swordfish on DVD - except for chapter 16 - an all important chapter which explains the whole plot I rekon. So without that scene Swordfish is just an average movie without a convincing conclusion - although I love any movie with Travolta in it and can't wait to watch the whole thing - and Rob if you read this don't get me wrong - but watching it on a 17 inch monitor with the shound system 5 feet away just aint the experience I thought it would be.

This blog is the first part of the new look for the site - over the next few days I should finish it off.

cheers.

bjd

Thursday, January 31, 2002

Tuesday, January 29, 2002

Monday, January 28, 2002

Sunday, January 27, 2002

Saturday, January 26, 2002

Monday, January 21, 2002

Saturday, January 19, 2002