belgarath_26

Sat, 27 Nov 2004 09:04:41 GMT

Yay! I just got me one of these... http://www.pentaximaging.com/products/product_details?reqID=3&subsection=digital_slr

Can't wait to go camping in a bit over a week and put it through its paces!

Sat, 09 Oct 2004 13:37:16 GMT

I wonder if this personality test qualifies me for the first steps to becoming a Sith Lord?
Or if that comment merely relegated me to Uber-nerd status.

You are a SEDL--Sober Emotional Destructive Leader. This makes you a Dictator.

You prefer to control situations, and lack of control makes you physically sick. You feel have responsibility for everyone's welfare, and that you will be blamed when things go wrong. Things do go wrong, and you take it harder than you should.

You rely on the validation and support of others, but you have a secret distrust for people and distaste for their habits and weaknesses that make you keep your distance from them. This makes you very difficult to be with romantically. Still, a level-headed peacemaker can keep you balanced.

Despite your fierce temper and general hot-bloodedness, you have a soft spot for animals and a surprising passion for the arts. Sometimes you would almost rather live by your wits in the wilderness somewhere, if you could bring your books and your sketchbook.

You also have a strange, undeniable sexiness to you. You may go insane.

Of the 39966 people who have taken this quiz since tracking began (8/17/2004), 5.3 % are this type.
Personality Test

Let them eat... err drink water

Wed, 07 Jul 2004 01:17:14 GMT

Y'know, I've been thinking... there's alot of charities devoted to helping various causes in a number of impoverished african nations. While these causes are extremely worthy, and doubtless help, to some degree, a huge number of people... there's a hell of a lot of people left over who *aren't* helped.
What if an effort was co-ordinated between a number of these charities, and the various government aid programs that a number of wealthy countries have in place... and a desalination plant was built in, to pick a country at random, Somalia. If the plant cost and maintenance was subsidised, and a hell of alot of piping put in... the access to cheap water might make a hell of a difference to the whole country. Farming would become alot more of a practical proposition, for starters... which would lead to more and cheaper food, reducing the effects of starvation. Less work would be required to operate on a mere subsistance level, freeing up time for children to actually acquire an education. It would be a cascade effect, I think. Comments?

Tue, 06 Jul 2004 23:22:38 GMT

Well, I'm off camping next week... Sunday to Wednesday. Everyone is telling me I'm insane for going camping in winter, and they may have a point :p However! I'd much rather be cold than overheating when I'm trekking 15km a day. Hopefully it'll help me with my urges to get fitter... I went rock climbing(at one of those indoor centres) last night with my flatmate. She totally kicked my arse, just glided up the walls, while my fingers were going numb and refused to grip anything! In my defence, I did manage to complete 3 walls... while she did 5, and managed to get more than halfway across a wall hanging *upside down*. I couldn't even figure out how to get a grip on those rocks! Next time I'll try that wall first while my fingers still have some degree of sensation in them! Anyway, I'm going to work out for a couple of weeks, and then have another shot at it!

Big Brother

Tue, 15 Jun 2004 00:21:29 GMT

I'm a little disturbed by this...
Spy law to curb hot cash roasted

Basically, it's a series of changes to the Financial Transaction Reporting Act that's going to mean that businesses such as real estate agents, jewellers, lawyers, accountants and bookies will have to 'spy' on their clients. According to justice minister Chris Ellison, it's a measure that'll draw small businesses and individuals into The War Against Terrorism(TWAT).

This is all pretty scary stuff. The ongoing threat of an external, faceless enemy is being used to impose draconian measures of control on our population, but in a subtle and gradual fashion. It looks like our governments have finally taken some lessons to heart from history, and have realised that the easiest way to chain a populace is to creep up upon them and wrap them(ever so slowly) in invisible chains of their own fears.

In case the link disappears eventually, here's how it will work(copied from news.com.au)

"Customer due diligence

Service providers will have to verify clients' identity, obtain information on the purpose and intended nature of customers' business dealings, and identify anyone who may benefit. Ongoing due diligence

This includes monitoring of all transactions.

Specific high-level customer due diligence

Businesses dealing with "politically exposed persons" or transactions with "countries that do not adequately apply the FATF standards" will have to apply "operational and risk management mechanisms".

PEPs are high-profile foreigners, such as politicians, senior government, judicial or military officials and executives of state-owned corporations.

Financial institutions must investigate any business dealings with non-complying countries "that have no apparent economic, commercial or visibly lawful ends".

Suspicious transaction reporting

Agents will need to know enough about the customer to be able to judge when a transaction is suspicious.

Record keeping

Agents will have to keep records of customer identity and transactions to provide to law enforcement agencies."