Footy Starts this week!!!!!

Can you believe it. It's Feb 24th and the footy is back.



All I know is that the Pies are playing the Saints on Sunday in a evening/twilight game. We can't go coz we have birthday commitments at that time so I'll be tuning in somewhere, hopefully the bowling alley we are going to will have it on a big screen.

Footy is back, I can smell the dencorub already.
No, Wait, that's the smell of the dencorub on my calf after I pulled a muscle attempting to run after a tennis ball. Do'h.

My prediction for this year. Fremantle to sack the coach and promote Mark Harvey. Why the hell would he move all the way over to W.A. if they hadn't guarenteed him the top job.

More predictions to follow...

The Share Game...

Today is the first day of the ASX (Australian Stock Exchange) sharemarket game.
What is that? I hear you cry out.
Well it's a game where you get to pretend you are a share trader, you are given a fictitious $50,000 starting money and you try to convert that into squillions by buying and selling shares on the sharemarket. At work we have a troupe of about 8 of us all trying to be the next Warren Buffet, but in actual fact, we generally come out looking like Alan Bond. You can only buy and sell from a list of 100 companies, mainly blue chip stocks so it requires a little research if you want to win the competition, but we just want to beat each other.
At the end of day one, I've converted my $50,000 stake into $50,001.28. Not a bad effort as that includes brokerage fees of $60, so technically I'm 61.28 up.
If anyone has some good advice, or hears about an takeover rumour. Please share it with the group.
I intend to keep a running summary here as well. The game lasts about 3 months.
Ciao.

Open letter to a mate.

Mate,
I normally wouldn't interfere in a mates personal life, but I feel like I just have to say something. If a friend hooks up with someone that is wrong for him then I'm unlikely to say anything. He'll find out sooner or later that she's just not right for him, but in your case mate, you told me things weren't smooth and that the past few months had been rocky, so when you told me that you were having a heart to heart with her on Friday, I'd assumed you were going to separate. I wasn't really supportive of you breaking up as it seemed as though you had a good thing going and that it was your usual "she wants to marry, but I don't so I'll dump her" phase. I didn't expect to see her at the BBQ on Sunday, but there she was. Obviously the heart to heart worked out and you were going to continue on.
Well, after spending the afternoon with you both, I've come to the conclusion that you stuffed up. Mate, you can do better. I didn't like her attitude towards you or your daughter, she was negative and gave you a hard time when you should have been enjoying the occasion. There was no excuse for being so rude, especially on front of people she hardly knew. As I said, I normally don't get involved, but you've had more than a year together and while you've said in the recent past that things aren't as they were, Mate, it's time to make the break. I know you are going overseas, enjoy your time away (might be a little cramped with your daughter in tow) but I know you'll have a ball, don't think about what you've left behind. Look to the future, it'll be great.
Mate, if you are reading this, act now, you know you need to.

All the best,

Clokeeeey.

Poochie....

I found a list of the worlds most famous dogs (in pop culture). Have a look for yourselves. What I found amazing was that there were 2 Simpson's dogs listed, Santa's little helper and the ill fated character Poochie. What's ridiculous is that Poochie comes in 22 places ahead of SLH in the rankings. What craps is this?

Most of the other dogs are recognizable, but there are some unknown to me. I can't argue with number 1, 2, 3 or 4 but is Goofy really a dog? Surely that is cause for great debate. Also, how does Underdog rate ahead of Hong Kong Phooey? Oh, and the inclusion of Junkyard dog, rates up there with the inclusion of Makybe Diva in the Ralph top 200 poll recently published.

Have a good week.

What's the weather?

So, How's the weather in Sydney?

Can't you read?

No, I'm blind! I'm wearing sunnies at night....See Ya.

* Note: The images are live so they may change through out the day/night.

[So, what should happen next?]

555-what

Did you ever notice that all phone numbers in movies, tv shows and radio shows that emanate from the great U.S. of A. Begin with 555 ? Here's a sample question from a puzzled viewer and an answer as to the origins of the standard prefix.

Dear Cecil:Why do all phone numbers in TV shows, movies, etc., have the prefix 555? Is it an FCC regulation? --Mary Jane, formerly of Lawrence, Kansas

Dear Mary Jane:Believe it or not, there are a few pinheads out there with nothing better to do than sit down and call every number they see on a television show or in a movie. "Hello, iscokesk there?" they say, chuckling at the sublimity of their wit. Generally,cokesk is not there, which causes a great deal of inconvenience for the poor sap who is. In one case several years ago a Peanuts strip carried a number that turned out to belong to a family in Moline, Illinois. Over 50 calls, ranging from plaintive requests to speak to Snoopy to less plaintive requests of a considerably darker nature, were logged in one evening.
Up until a few years ago, the phone company maintained a service that provided fictional (i.e., unused) numbers to producers and writers. But it soon developed, in this wide, wonderful country of ours, that there wasn't a single number that wasn't in use somewhere. The "555" gambit was created in 1973--no matter where you are, dialing the 555 number plugs you into directory assistance, where a legion of professionally trained operators awaits to answer the particular crankiness of your call. 555 isn't an FCC regulation, but simply a convenient creation of Ma Bell.

-CECIL ADAMS

Now, I'm not to sure about Cecil's credentials but I'm sure he's spot on here. I noticed on a drive to the local pool the other day that a fish and chip shop had a phone number that begin with a 9555 and I commented that I'm sure they were happy when the 9 was added to the front of their number, would have stopped some crank calls. The 9 is a recent addition in Australia so I'm sure each state has similar.

I found this other website which lists many of the "555" numbers used in movies and tv shows. As someone mentions in the comments, these people have way too much time on their hands.

It will take me a while to verify this list as correct, so let's just assume it is.

Those wacky speed cubers...

Back in the day, when I was in my teens, there was this phenomena called Rubik's Cube. A 3 by 3 by 3 cube of six colours and a twisty mechanism etc, you know the one. Here's a sample in case you forgot.



Well, I used to be able to complete it in an amount of time which I thought to be pretty good. Around about 1 and a half minutes or so. Now I found out that there are world championships and that the world record was set by Leyan Lo with a staggering time of 11.13 seconds!!!

This guy is a freak, but his great time wasn't good enough to win him the world championship. They have to complete the puzzle 3 times and then they take the average. He was .2 seconds slower than the champion (Shotaro Makisumi) at 14.9 seconds.

For more info on this exiting sport, head over to Speed Cubing site and be amazed.

What I learnt from watching Victoria Secrets.

Not much, just a lot of tits and arse and the odd Brazilian*.

Best model award goes to Tyra Banks. It's her last walk up the runway (huh?) for VS as she embarks on her Oprah style, I'm gonna change the world, TV show. Good luck on your new venture.

I thought he was dead award goes to Ricky Martin. He appeared, sang a song about dropping a bomb (appropriate for him) and there scuttled of. Ole Ricky.

Lucky bastard award goes to Ricky Martin. During his performance, he received a groin rub from that girl from the Black Eyed Peas, well at least it looked like her.

So now I need to get my hands on a catalogue and see what I should buy for my honey, with valentines day coming along soon and all.


On other matters, spent the weekend painting my sons bedroom, it's a nice bright green, selected by him and as he's been sunning himself down at the beach house he'll come home to a green surprise.




* If you hadn't guessed, Ricky was the odd Brazilian.

Choices.

Do I blog or do I sit in front of chanel 10 and watch the Victoria Secrets underwear parade?

Hmmmm....

Bye.

Welcome to our new home!

Here we are, 3 weeks after we moved into our new place and part one of my guided tour of "Our Home".

We start in the garage. Lots of stuff stored in here. Many a box still unopened, many a donation bag or box ready to be transported to a needy charity. One day we might actually get to see the floor.

The left side.


The right side.


The middle, where we park our unicycles.


The entrance and the first hallway.
My office is through that door on the right and the games room to the left.


Here is the games room. Note the picture on the wall.
Also note the empty, flattened boxes are here also, the won't fit in the garage just yet but I'll soon have space when the donations are gone and a couple of fridges are taken too.









Here is my office. With a nice big reading lamp hanging on the wall, this room is where all my fortunes are made. That computer of mine is getting on a bit but it's still pumping out good stuff. That little grey box on the desk, is the new ADSL modem, the cause of all my grief over the past few weeks as I had technician after technician look into why ADSL was failing. Just when I was about to give up, I tried a new modem and it worked. Yipee!!! High speed net access again and my girlfriend has now joined the party as well.










The other side of my not so tidy office (the dark side).









Here's the kitchen.












and finally, the guest room.









stay tuned for more pics.

Umm.... I'm still here.

Hi, been a while.

After flogging that Galaga I decided to take a short break, well with moving house and all that, blogging was not a high priority. Especially when I can't get my ADSL connection going, dial up is so infuriatingly slow. If only I could find someone to fix this damn thing, every person that's turned up to look at it just shrugs his shoulders and says "that's the best I can do" or "That's all I'm allowed to do, I can't touch the phone lines in the house, I'm just a Telstra linesman". It's hard to get good help!

Anyway, I might get back into this a bit more soon so for now I'm off to check on a few blogs and that'll do it for tonight.

Gianluca, I'll get back to your question soon, look out for it. Ciao.

Item for sale, all offers accepted.

In the tradition of Bevis' "Items for sale" I have the 80's classic Galaga (say it fast though).
One of a pair of Galagas.
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Time to Sway.

OK, this will be the final song. In case you were wondering what this has all been about, tomorrow, it will be 2 years since I first set eyes on my darling heart. After a short e-mail interlude, we decided to meet and the rest has just been magical. I Love you honey.

This song is one of my honey's favourites. We keep forgetting the title but now it's on paper so we can't forget it.

Take it away, Mr Dean Martin... With backing tune (open in new window)

When marimba rhythms start to play
Dance with me, make me sway
Like a lazy ocean hugs the shore
Hold me close, sway me more

Like a flower bending in the breeze
Bend with me, sway with ease
When we dance you have a way with me
Stay with me, sway with me

Other dancers may be on the floor
Dear, but my eyes will see only you
Only you have the magic technique
When we sway I go weak

I can hear the sounds of violins
Long before it begins
Make me thrill as only you know how
Sway me smooth, sway me now

Other dancers may be on the floor
Dear, but my eyes will see only you
Only you have the magic technique
When we sway I go weak

I can hear the sounds of violins
Long before it begins
Make me thrill as only you know how
Sway me smooth, sway me nowYou know how
Sway me smooth, sway me now

Now it's time for a little language of love, Italian that is.


Rose rosse per te
ho comprato stasera
e il tuo cuore lo sa
cosa voglio da te

D'amore non si muore
e non mi so spiegare
perche' muoio per te
da quando ti ho lasciato
sarà perché ho sbagliato
ma io vivo di te
e ormai non c'e' piu' strada
che non mi porti indietro
amore sai perché
nel cuore del mio cuore
non ho altro che te

Forse in amore le rose
non si usano più
ma questi fiori sapranno
parlarti di me

Rose rosse per te
ho comprato stasera
e il tuo cuore lo sa
cosa voglio da te

D'amore non si muore
ma chi si sente solo
non sa vivere piu'
con l'ultima speranza
stasera ho comprato
rose rosse per te
la strada dei ricordi
e' sempre la piu' lunga
amore sai perche'
nel cuore del mio cuore
non ho altro che te

Forse in amore le rose
non si usano piu'
ma questi fiori sapranno
parlarti di me

Rose rosse per te
ho comprato stasera
e il tuo cuore lo sa
cosa voglio da te

---------------------------
Ti amo mio amore,
Questi fiori sono un simbolo del mio amore per te.

Song #4 with Video

Going back to the sixties for this one complete with video for all to watch*.


 Well do you love me (I can really move)
 Well do you love me (I'm in the groove)
 Ah do you love me (do you love me)
 Now that I can dance

 Watch me now, oh
 (work it all) I said-a work it all baby
 (work it all) ah, you're drivin' me crazy
 (work it all) a-with a little bit of soul now

 Mmm, now I can do the blues (do the blues)
 And I can do the twist (do the twist)
 I said now tell me baby (tell me baby)
 Mmm, now do you like it like this (like it like this)
 Whoa, tell me, tell me, tell me

 Ah, do you love me (I can really move)
 Well do you love me (I'm in the groove)
 Well do you love me (do you love me)
 Now that I can dance

 Watch me now, oh
 (work it all) I said-a work it all baby
 (work it all) mmm, you're drivin' me crazy
 (work it all) a-with a little bit of soul now

 Now I can do the blues (do the blues)
 Mmm, I can do the twist (do the twist)
 I said now tell me baby (tell me baby)
 Ah, do you like it like this (like it like this)
 Whoa, tell me, tell me, tell me

 Ah, well do you love me (I can really move)
 Well do you love me (I'm in the groove)
 Well do you love me (do you love me)
 Now that I can dance

 Ah, do you love me (I can really move)
 Well do you love me (I'm in the groove)
 Well do you love me (do you love me)
 I said that now that I can dance

 Ah now do you love me (I can really move)
 Well do you love me (I'm in the groove)
 Well do you love me (do you love me)
 Now that I can dance


* may not actually be Clokeeeey!