Saw this in comments over at a SayUncle post:
Please accept without obligation, express or implied, these best wishes for an environmentally safe, socially responsible, low stress, non addictive, and gender neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday as practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice (but with respect for the religious or secular persuasions and/or traditions of others, or for their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all) and further for a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling, and medically uncomplicated onset of the generally accepted calendar year (including, but not limited to, the Christian calendar, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures). The preceding wishes are extended without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith, choice of computer platform, or sexual preference of the wishee(s).
Or,
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Everybody!"
Not sure the first part will fit neatly on a card either.
Regardless - "Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year" sums up my opinion on the matter!
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Monday, December 22, 2008
Discussion at the Coffee Truck this Morning
Scene: Workplace carpark with coffee truck. Two (young) salesgirls, a random guy from the factory and me.
Salesgirl#1 to me: "Sorry, but I completely forgot about shooting on Saturday."
Me: "Not to worry, we'll schedule another shoot soon. I went up there anyway, but didn't shoot. I did however shoot on the Sunday."
Random unknown factory guy: "Umm, excuse me, what gun club?"
Me: "OGSA, do you know it?"
Random unknown factory guy: "Heard of it, I shoot service matches at Rockingham and I am a member of three clubs. I also hold a dealer's licence."
--- brief interlude of random gun discussion ....
Salesgirl#2: "I'm planning to join OGSA. I'm looking forward to starting the training course in Feb."
Random unknown factory guy: "Wow. Umm, it's great that you want to get into shooting. It's a great hobby."
Coffee was ready, all went our separate ways.
Now that's what I call a good discussion!
Salesgirl#1 to me: "Sorry, but I completely forgot about shooting on Saturday."
Me: "Not to worry, we'll schedule another shoot soon. I went up there anyway, but didn't shoot. I did however shoot on the Sunday."
Random unknown factory guy: "Umm, excuse me, what gun club?"
Me: "OGSA, do you know it?"
Random unknown factory guy: "Heard of it, I shoot service matches at Rockingham and I am a member of three clubs. I also hold a dealer's licence."
--- brief interlude of random gun discussion ....
Salesgirl#2: "I'm planning to join OGSA. I'm looking forward to starting the training course in Feb."
Random unknown factory guy: "Wow. Umm, it's great that you want to get into shooting. It's a great hobby."
Coffee was ready, all went our separate ways.
Now that's what I call a good discussion!
Friday, December 19, 2008
Just in time for Christmas
Want something for that "hard to buy for" man (or woman) in your life? Got a spare $4,900,000.00? (It's Australia dollars, so an absolute bargain for you Americans :) ).
How about a Ex-Australian Navy submarine? ... That's right, available on Ebay.
The sales pitch is as follows:
Proceeds from the purchase of merchandise goes directly to the maintainence and administration of the submarine and project overall.
Any items purchased will be received with a certificate of appreciation for your support.
For more information click here to visit web site at www.otama.com.au
"It's not every day you can bid for a 2,000 tonne submarine online, but that's what it's come down to. The HMAS Otama, the last Oberon submarine built for the Australian Navy has been sitting, rusting in Western Port Bay for six years. There were celebrations in 2002 when a small group of volunteers won the sought after tender with the help of a $500,000 grant from the Federal Government's Federation Fund. But the money is running out and the foreshore they have tried to put it on has become or is environmentally protected."
The Western Port Oberon Association Incorporated are group of community minded volunteers, committed to the betterment of the Western Port area. We have been trying to bring this project forward for many years. Unfortunately many obsticles have been put before us.
We are looking for partners, sponsors, members or any one willing to help.
The project has Approved Deductible Gift Recipient status.
Any donation over $2.00 is Fully Tax Deductable.
Western Port Oberon Association. ABN:21798098471.
PO Box 503
Hastings Victoria 3915
Mmm, fitting it in the stocking could be an issue!
How about a Ex-Australian Navy submarine? ... That's right, available on Ebay.
The sales pitch is as follows:
Proceeds from the purchase of merchandise goes directly to the maintainence and administration of the submarine and project overall.
Any items purchased will be received with a certificate of appreciation for your support.
For more information click here to visit web site at www.otama.com.au
"It's not every day you can bid for a 2,000 tonne submarine online, but that's what it's come down to. The HMAS Otama, the last Oberon submarine built for the Australian Navy has been sitting, rusting in Western Port Bay for six years. There were celebrations in 2002 when a small group of volunteers won the sought after tender with the help of a $500,000 grant from the Federal Government's Federation Fund. But the money is running out and the foreshore they have tried to put it on has become or is environmentally protected."
The Western Port Oberon Association Incorporated are group of community minded volunteers, committed to the betterment of the Western Port area. We have been trying to bring this project forward for many years. Unfortunately many obsticles have been put before us.
We are looking for partners, sponsors, members or any one willing to help.
The project has Approved Deductible Gift Recipient status.
Any donation over $2.00 is Fully Tax Deductable.
Western Port Oberon Association. ABN:21798098471.
PO Box 503
Hastings Victoria 3915
Mmm, fitting it in the stocking could be an issue!
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Only Five Left
A couple of days ago wandering around the internet I came across the article, "6 Insane Discoveries That Science Can't Explain".
The six things were (numbered as per the original article):
6) The Voynich Manuscript
5) The Antikythera Mechanism
4) The Baigong Pipes
3) The Giant Stone Balls of Costa Rica
2) The Baghdad Batteries
1) The Bloop
Today a friend brought the following to my attention:
World's First Computer Rebuilt, Rebooted After 2,000 Years
A British museum curator has built a working replica of a 2,000-year-old Greek machine that has been called the world's first computer.
A dictionary-size assemblage of 37 interlocking dials crafted with the precision and complexity of a 19th-century Swiss clock, the Antikythera mechanism was used for modeling and predicting the movements of the heavenly bodies as well as the dates and locations of upcoming Olympic games.
The original 81 shards of the Antikythera were recovered from under the sea (near the Greek island of Antikythera) in 1902, rusted and clumped together in a nearly indecipherable mass. Scientists dated it to 150 B.C. Such craftsmanship wouldn't be seen for another 1,000 years — but its purpose was a mystery for decades.
Many scientists have worked since the 1950s to piece together the story, with the help of some very sophisticated imaging technology in recent years, including X-ray and gamma-ray imaging and 3-D computer modeling.
Now, though, it has been rebuilt. As is almost always the way with these things, it was an amateur who cracked it. Michael Wright, a former curator at the Science Museum in London, has built a replica of the Antikythera, which works perfectly.
In the video from New Scientist below, Wright shows how the machine works.
In short, Antikythera's user interface is deceptively simple, operated by a simple knob on the side. This conceals the intricacy within, amounting to a complex mathematical model, tracking the movements of planetary bodies and incorporating a series of submechanisms to account for the eccentricities of their rotation.
A dial on the faceplace featured the Greek zodiac and an Egyptian calendar; pointers showed the location of the moon and the five planets known at the time. On the machine's back, an upper dial shows a 19-year calendar (matching the solunar cycle) and the timing of upcoming Olympic games. A lower dial shows a 76-year cycle (when the Olympic and solunar cycles coincide) and indicates the months in which lunar and solar eclipses can be expected.
According to New Scientist, this is the first working model of the Antikythera computer to include all of the device's known features. And, like the original machine, it has been built of recycled metal plates. That's right: The Antikythera mechanism is not only the world's oldest computer, it's also the world's first green computer.
The video clip is on the site referenced above, or can be viewed directly at youtube.
The six things were (numbered as per the original article):
6) The Voynich Manuscript
5) The Antikythera Mechanism
4) The Baigong Pipes
3) The Giant Stone Balls of Costa Rica
2) The Baghdad Batteries
1) The Bloop
Today a friend brought the following to my attention:
World's First Computer Rebuilt, Rebooted After 2,000 Years
A British museum curator has built a working replica of a 2,000-year-old Greek machine that has been called the world's first computer.
A dictionary-size assemblage of 37 interlocking dials crafted with the precision and complexity of a 19th-century Swiss clock, the Antikythera mechanism was used for modeling and predicting the movements of the heavenly bodies as well as the dates and locations of upcoming Olympic games.
The original 81 shards of the Antikythera were recovered from under the sea (near the Greek island of Antikythera) in 1902, rusted and clumped together in a nearly indecipherable mass. Scientists dated it to 150 B.C. Such craftsmanship wouldn't be seen for another 1,000 years — but its purpose was a mystery for decades.
Many scientists have worked since the 1950s to piece together the story, with the help of some very sophisticated imaging technology in recent years, including X-ray and gamma-ray imaging and 3-D computer modeling.
Now, though, it has been rebuilt. As is almost always the way with these things, it was an amateur who cracked it. Michael Wright, a former curator at the Science Museum in London, has built a replica of the Antikythera, which works perfectly.
In the video from New Scientist below, Wright shows how the machine works.
In short, Antikythera's user interface is deceptively simple, operated by a simple knob on the side. This conceals the intricacy within, amounting to a complex mathematical model, tracking the movements of planetary bodies and incorporating a series of submechanisms to account for the eccentricities of their rotation.
A dial on the faceplace featured the Greek zodiac and an Egyptian calendar; pointers showed the location of the moon and the five planets known at the time. On the machine's back, an upper dial shows a 19-year calendar (matching the solunar cycle) and the timing of upcoming Olympic games. A lower dial shows a 76-year cycle (when the Olympic and solunar cycles coincide) and indicates the months in which lunar and solar eclipses can be expected.
According to New Scientist, this is the first working model of the Antikythera computer to include all of the device's known features. And, like the original machine, it has been built of recycled metal plates. That's right: The Antikythera mechanism is not only the world's oldest computer, it's also the world's first green computer.
The video clip is on the site referenced above, or can be viewed directly at youtube.
From an Email: Guns and Doctors
Received this in an email this morning (thanks Aileen) ...
Doctors:
(a) The number of doctors in the US is 700,000
(b) Accidental deaths caused by physicians per year are 120,000
(c) Accidental deaths per physician is 0.17
Guns:
(a) The number of gun owners in the US is 80,000,000
(b) Accidental gun deaths per year is 1,500
(c) Accidental deaths per gun owner is 0.000019
So, statistically, doctors are approximately 9,000 times more dangerous than gun owners.
Remember: Guns don't kill people; doctors do.
Not everyone has a gun, but almost everyone has a doctor.
Please alert your friends to this alarming threat. Doctors should be banned, or at least more strictly controlled, before this gets more out of hand.
Out of concern for general public safety, there should be no statistics published about lawyers for fear the shock would cause people to panic and seek a doctor's assistance.
Note: Numbers not checked for validity!
Doctors:
(a) The number of doctors in the US is 700,000
(b) Accidental deaths caused by physicians per year are 120,000
(c) Accidental deaths per physician is 0.17
Guns:
(a) The number of gun owners in the US is 80,000,000
(b) Accidental gun deaths per year is 1,500
(c) Accidental deaths per gun owner is 0.000019
So, statistically, doctors are approximately 9,000 times more dangerous than gun owners.
Remember: Guns don't kill people; doctors do.
Not everyone has a gun, but almost everyone has a doctor.
Please alert your friends to this alarming threat. Doctors should be banned, or at least more strictly controlled, before this gets more out of hand.
Out of concern for general public safety, there should be no statistics published about lawyers for fear the shock would cause people to panic and seek a doctor's assistance.
Note: Numbers not checked for validity!
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
How Could I Have Missed This Two Years Running?
Welcome to the 3rd Annual Global Orgasm for Peace
Yep, the 3rd Annual Global Orgasm for peace is to be held on December 21st at 12.04pm GMT (although, apparently there's a two hour window that you can utilise ... or maybe it's supposed to last 2 hours, or maybe you need to have as many as possible in the 2 hours ... mmm ... i probably need to check out the FAQ).
The "reason" for this activity is:
To effect positive change in the energy field of the Earth through input of the largest possible instantaneous surge of human biological, mental and spiritual energy.
There's more "whys" under the 3 Reasons section.
Things like Peace ... Orgasm and the sense of well-being it brings - how would the planet be if it felt that good? Could that be one definition of Peace? Practice visualizing the planet experiencing the afterglow of your Big Oh and ignoring the Govern-Men as they try to drum up support for their next invasion.
and
Gender & Social Justice .... We are all worthy of justice. To combine the energy of orgasm with a conscious empathy for all beings, human and otherwise, would be a powerful boost to the well-being of our planet and species.
and
Global Warming ooops, should we tell them that it has been rebadged as "climate change"? ... The planet needs a rest from all our other desires, so what better way to get us to take a rest from over-consumption than an orgasm? And if we can combine that energy with a resolution to be satisfied with less of everything (except orgasms, of course), perhaps the collective mindset will change.
read that again "be satisfied with less of everything (except orgasms, of course)" ... right!
Anyone planning an "orgasm" party? ... (i guess you could call it an "Orgy for Change"). Sounds like a workable excuse to me.
Unfortunately (or fortunately) I'm otherwise occupied at that time on Sunday night, so I'll be missing out (literally, apparently) ... maybe next year?
h/t Bayou Renaissance Man
Yep, the 3rd Annual Global Orgasm for peace is to be held on December 21st at 12.04pm GMT (although, apparently there's a two hour window that you can utilise ... or maybe it's supposed to last 2 hours, or maybe you need to have as many as possible in the 2 hours ... mmm ... i probably need to check out the FAQ).
The "reason" for this activity is:
To effect positive change in the energy field of the Earth through input of the largest possible instantaneous surge of human biological, mental and spiritual energy.
There's more "whys" under the 3 Reasons section.
Things like Peace ... Orgasm and the sense of well-being it brings - how would the planet be if it felt that good? Could that be one definition of Peace? Practice visualizing the planet experiencing the afterglow of your Big Oh and ignoring the Govern-Men as they try to drum up support for their next invasion.
and
Gender & Social Justice .... We are all worthy of justice. To combine the energy of orgasm with a conscious empathy for all beings, human and otherwise, would be a powerful boost to the well-being of our planet and species.
and
Global Warming ooops, should we tell them that it has been rebadged as "climate change"? ... The planet needs a rest from all our other desires, so what better way to get us to take a rest from over-consumption than an orgasm? And if we can combine that energy with a resolution to be satisfied with less of everything (except orgasms, of course), perhaps the collective mindset will change.
read that again "be satisfied with less of everything (except orgasms, of course)" ... right!
Anyone planning an "orgasm" party? ... (i guess you could call it an "Orgy for Change"). Sounds like a workable excuse to me.
Unfortunately (or fortunately) I'm otherwise occupied at that time on Sunday night, so I'll be missing out (literally, apparently) ... maybe next year?
h/t Bayou Renaissance Man
Monday, December 15, 2008
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