2011: The Year In Review
So How Was it?
Don't remember, don't care.
What was your most memorable moment?
The fine folks at the Australian Passport Office, second place goes to
the continuous stream of shit piled on me the whole year.
What have you learned this year?
Self interest. Money only exists until you spend it. You don't have to drink all the time, but it helps.
What was your favourite colour?
Black
Did you stick to your resolutions/goals?
I don't even remember what they where.
What most impressed you?
My liver
Do you have any goals/resolutions for 2012?
To be continued...
Don't remember, don't care.
What was your most memorable moment?
The fine folks at the Australian Passport Office, second place goes to
the continuous stream of shit piled on me the whole year.
What have you learned this year?
Self interest. Money only exists until you spend it. You don't have to drink all the time, but it helps.
What was your favourite colour?
Black
Did you stick to your resolutions/goals?
I don't even remember what they where.
What most impressed you?
My liver
Do you have any goals/resolutions for 2012?
To be continued...
Christmas 2011
So begins the 2 weeks of 'holiday' which will most likely include hard labour, working in the office, taking my mum to some tourist attraction, self loathing and copious amounts of drinking.
Pick a Platform
I have realised I need to focus one platform and not try and duplicate my efforts across different outlets. Its both tiring and confusing for me. Sure if there is a way to automate then great, but I need to work out what works best for me and optimise for that. I would like to move to wordpress, but whats the point... tumblr is nice for catching up with what the hipsters are looking at, but nothing for me to really post there, its just not that type of crowd.
Wallet
For about 7 years I used a orange wallet made of elephant leather. That probably sounds mean and wrong, but its also awesome. And you know it. It was awesome until it started to fall apart. Probably had another 2 years as it fell apart, most-likely make it to 10 years, but my paranoia and OCD to protect and horde my belongings caused me to retire that wallet and pick up a wallet from the box of wallets I have collected over the years. These being those I have purchased or gained from birthday/christmas/diwali presents. The elephant leather wallet was a thin single fold wallet it was an extension of my left thigh. It just fit nicely into any trousers I was wearing. I changed to a double fold (triple flap) wallet. More slots for my cards, divider for big and small notes, dual ID holders, everything you could ever want from a wallet. But its just too fat.
If we delve deeper I also had a coin purse. It was good as during that time I never had enough money to actually hold notes, it had a flap for notes.... but mainly I only had coins during my senior high school years. Prior to that (yr 8 to 10) I had various Velcro wallets or just nothing at all.
Whilst at work I noticed how thin my ipod nano 2g was next to the bulk of my wallet and realised I needed something thinner. My wallet always annoyed me in terms of its girth, but its a wallet, holds money and cards, what do I care?
The problem with paper wallets is its hydrophobia and durability is limited to the quality/thickness of paper. Do I care. Fuck no! The fact that its unique and awesome like the elephant wallet. But made of a different type of finite resource. I am surrounded by boxes of paper that we just throw away, what if I use this resource for the first step in the recycle triangle and reuse in a productive way?
If we delve deeper I also had a coin purse. It was good as during that time I never had enough money to actually hold notes, it had a flap for notes.... but mainly I only had coins during my senior high school years. Prior to that (yr 8 to 10) I had various Velcro wallets or just nothing at all.
Whilst at work I noticed how thin my ipod nano 2g was next to the bulk of my wallet and realised I needed something thinner. My wallet always annoyed me in terms of its girth, but its a wallet, holds money and cards, what do I care?
- Comfort
- Bulge
- Weight
- Durability
- Looks
The problem with paper wallets is its hydrophobia and durability is limited to the quality/thickness of paper. Do I care. Fuck no! The fact that its unique and awesome like the elephant wallet. But made of a different type of finite resource. I am surrounded by boxes of paper that we just throw away, what if I use this resource for the first step in the recycle triangle and reuse in a productive way?
I require a bookshelf as evidenced by the piles of bound paper on my floor. I was going to get something from ikea but my love of floor to ceiling bookshelves is strong. I still may go to Ikea, but I am also going to price up a home made version.
The design of the billy bookcase is not that hard to imagine, Whilst doing the design I also thought about how I would actually put it together. They normally use dowel bits and some screws. Again pretty easy. However, I have discovered it might be difficult to drill the holes in the shelves whilst also keeping it straight. I could use angle thingys but that would be crap. Going to check out bunnings tomorrow for actual wood prices.
The design of the billy bookcase is not that hard to imagine, Whilst doing the design I also thought about how I would actually put it together. They normally use dowel bits and some screws. Again pretty easy. However, I have discovered it might be difficult to drill the holes in the shelves whilst also keeping it straight. I could use angle thingys but that would be crap. Going to check out bunnings tomorrow for actual wood prices.
No Money for a week
After a debate with my work colleagues about how I spend too much money on lunch, I decided to create a little experiment/challenge for myself. I will not spend any money from my bank account for one week. Basically I cannot access my bank account for one week.
I lasted to Thursday, when I needed to buy more beer, being lazy I just bought a carton, instead of maximizing what cash I had left and just buy a 6 pack or similar. I failed.
But I think given another go I could actually do it. It has also come to my attention I have a lot of automatic transfer from my account, mostly to other high interest savings accounts. I am going to try and not be lazy with my money and try and save more frequently. The change experiment should have highlighted that, but I never really went through with it at the completion of the experiment.
I lasted to Thursday, when I needed to buy more beer, being lazy I just bought a carton, instead of maximizing what cash I had left and just buy a 6 pack or similar. I failed.
But I think given another go I could actually do it. It has also come to my attention I have a lot of automatic transfer from my account, mostly to other high interest savings accounts. I am going to try and not be lazy with my money and try and save more frequently. The change experiment should have highlighted that, but I never really went through with it at the completion of the experiment.
Speech recognition
Hello world.
This is rather cool, but also it sounds dorky to do this.
I wonder how fast I can talk, before he gets frustrated. Well it is actually quite good.
I could get used to this.
I am thinking of buying new shoes.nt
Is this the end of the page. Yes!Is it wasn’t I think I do not know. I do not have the force at work. But this could be interesting if you can work that are clearly should not stop the reaction stop talking ledger report yes. One that does not make any sense. Originality there must leave them on.
I am going to bed. Good night.
Soup for one
I have the flu, so I drink soup, only packet soup is crap. So i made my own.
Its a simple recipe I made up using common sense.
Ingredients
1 carrot
2 small potato
1 chilli
half celery stick
sweet corn (left overs)
shallots (left overs)
half onion
garlic
Stock pot - the new ones :-p
Directions
1. Dice
2. Saute onion, garlic and chilli
3. Water (1 kettle (1.5L))
4. Ingredients
5. Stock pot
6. ???????
7. Profit
Things I would do differently
No chilli, the chilli floats to the top and is dangerous, use paprika instead
More potato, the potato goes MIA but that could be the type of potato
More celery just use the whole stick
Don't get the stock pot, just get oxo cubes or similar like I was supposed to.
Some fresh herbs would not go astray.
It tastes nice, clean, clear and simple no unnecessary sugars, should keep until I recover.
Cost
All ingrediants except the celery ($1.50) and stock pots ($3.50) were already in the fridge so basically free.
Computer upgrades
So I'm sitting here doing a bit of window shopping as is my normal routine when sick. First I started out by looking at a complete overhaul, i5 to i7 and a a new GPU etc. Thankfully I realised that is a stupid idea and I could spend some money else where, eg SSD or UPS which are two things I really want (apart from an iPad). The problem with the SSD is the small capacity and the fact it gives me a headache thinking about how to install all the programs and games etc on two separate hdd, which is the suck.
So now I am onto UPS, which is making more sense as I read into it. Basically everyone needs one.
Calculate how much power you need
PC 750
Monitor 100
Modem 10
Router 10
External HDD 20
Total 890
+20% = 1068
These figures are quite rough as I guessed. So for my computer I am going to need something quite powerful. For the HTPC I have worked out it is drawing about 230w, but I'm pretty sure I put a 650w PSU in it. In any case I just need it to last maybe 5 mins while I switch the power back on in the box.
So now I am onto UPS, which is making more sense as I read into it. Basically everyone needs one.
Calculate how much power you need
PC 750
Monitor 100
Modem 10
Router 10
External HDD 20
Total 890
+20% = 1068
These figures are quite rough as I guessed. So for my computer I am going to need something quite powerful. For the HTPC I have worked out it is drawing about 230w, but I'm pretty sure I put a 650w PSU in it. In any case I just need it to last maybe 5 mins while I switch the power back on in the box.
i have teh flu
I'm sick and bored. This is my third day off work which should be cause for a spontaneous celebration. Currently drinking weak ribena with warm water.
Boredom is not always good, as it can lead to various forms of fire or stop start lego annimations.
Boredom is not always good, as it can lead to various forms of fire or stop start lego annimations.
Describe a recent A'ah! moment
This morning I discovered that it may in fact be beneficial to wake up earlier in the day. This is not a new idea/thought. Just something that has required a significant amount of convincing, a few/most of the people I work with get up early. But not normal early, but when its still dark early. For me, its the opposite, if I get to bed before the sunrises, I consider that an early night.
Alarm Clock Postmortem
The alarm clock has been off for a week or so. Has my world of order and timeliness crumbled. Yes. But also no.
Despite the fact I have no external alarm clock other than my sleepy self, I have managed to get to work on time. I just don't mean on time I mean early to work. Proof of this was found on Sunday morning, I stayed up till 4am watching India complete its victory, then proceeded to catch the ferry to straddie at 7:55am.
This is more the cold turkey approach, rather than going to bed early, I go to bed when I am tied. Which is around 11:00. Then I reach conciousness around 5:30 but don't actually get out of bed till 6:30 on account of my laziness.
Which brings me to a conclusion which does not fit any of the hypotheses. If you want to get up early you have to get out of bed. The body/mind is capable of getting you to the point where you should be out of bed (the same is true of an alarm clock), but you still have to actually get out of bed. For me this has/is the hardest part of the exercise. I will happily lye in my bed for a good hour, being frustrated, then get up and do something productive, potentially easing those frustrations.
Despite the fact I have no external alarm clock other than my sleepy self, I have managed to get to work on time. I just don't mean on time I mean early to work. Proof of this was found on Sunday morning, I stayed up till 4am watching India complete its victory, then proceeded to catch the ferry to straddie at 7:55am.
This is more the cold turkey approach, rather than going to bed early, I go to bed when I am tied. Which is around 11:00. Then I reach conciousness around 5:30 but don't actually get out of bed till 6:30 on account of my laziness.
Which brings me to a conclusion which does not fit any of the hypotheses. If you want to get up early you have to get out of bed. The body/mind is capable of getting you to the point where you should be out of bed (the same is true of an alarm clock), but you still have to actually get out of bed. For me this has/is the hardest part of the exercise. I will happily lye in my bed for a good hour, being frustrated, then get up and do something productive, potentially easing those frustrations.
I recently signed up for LinkedIn, which is a type of professional facebook. One interesting thing is that it is a subscription based model. There is advertising, and there are probably people trying to sell their wares on the forums or direct to people. But the cost of the subscription is not small. $20 per month.... I can get hardcore pornography for less than that. Extra things you get if you pay are things like being able to save profiles, view extended information. Which should realistically be included if they don't want a similar site to start up and taking all their users (say even facebook itself).
I have signed up to a few CPA/accounting forums and I even scored a contact which makes me feel less of a loner.
I have signed up to a few CPA/accounting forums and I even scored a contact which makes me feel less of a loner.
The Final...
Thank fully India made it through to the final. I stayed up till 3am listening to the radio, so would have been a significant loss if, they, lost...
I did try to goto sleep and figure I can get the result in the morning, but that wasn't going to happen as I need to know what was going on.
(tenth post of the year)
I did try to goto sleep and figure I can get the result in the morning, but that wasn't going to happen as I need to know what was going on.
(tenth post of the year)
Alarm Clock
We had a power failure about a week ago and consequently my alarm clock needed to be set to the correct time. The clock it self does have a 9v battery as a backup, but never seems to provide any sort of backup to the clock in the event of such a power failure. The power failure we are talking about is about 1-2 minutes. The time it takes me to reset the safety switch after overloading the circuit with my dodgy electrical work.
Since that time, my clock has been flashing away at the incorrect time, however I have still managed to get up on time and since I have a wrist watch, its not my primary time keeper. The proposed idea is if I can go without my alarm clock.
The Bad
Since that time, my clock has been flashing away at the incorrect time, however I have still managed to get up on time and since I have a wrist watch, its not my primary time keeper. The proposed idea is if I can go without my alarm clock.
The Bad
- Get up late
- Late for work
- not knowing what time it is in the middle of the night
- no morning music/news
- Personal responsibility to get up/have enough rest
- training my self to getup at a certain time
- freedom from the constraint of arbitrary time measurement
- less light interference
- less electromagnetic interference
- less electricity expense
- less clutter on my desk
Who Deserves More Credit
Name someone who deserves more credit than they get. And for bonus points, how to change things so they get more.
I sat for 5 minutes thinking of people I know that would need more credit. I drew a blank, then thought about my selft.... Maybe I need more credit. Alas I could not think of a single reason why even I should receive more credit despite my work with the poor and pursuits in science (sarcasm).
I sat for 5 minutes thinking of people I know that would need more credit. I drew a blank, then thought about my selft.... Maybe I need more credit. Alas I could not think of a single reason why even I should receive more credit despite my work with the poor and pursuits in science (sarcasm).
The Lazy Blogger Returns
I promised a post a day in 2011 and I failed withing 6 days. I had some good momentum, but that probably wasn't enough.
So, I'm going to try again and without trying to sound too over ambitious I will finish this year with 365 posts. I thought about backdating them all, but that would be cheating.
So, I'm going to try again and without trying to sound too over ambitious I will finish this year with 365 posts. I thought about backdating them all, but that would be cheating.
Talk or Text
Texting vs Talking
Talking is a lot quicker, instant feedback, less stuffing around, no chance to create BS.
Texting can spread a converstation over a number of days, ability to make BS.
Talking is a lot quicker, instant feedback, less stuffing around, no chance to create BS.
Texting can spread a converstation over a number of days, ability to make BS.
Smile
Later today you are going to do something, something you don't know about yet.
Yet somehow, it's already happened. Somehow, it's already affected you.
Huh?
One of the most respected, senior and widely published professors of psychology, Daryl Bem of Cornell, has just published an article that suggests that people — ordinary people — can be altered by experiences they haven't had yet. Time, he suggests, is leaking. The Future has slipped, unannounced, into the Present. And he thinks he can prove it.
Already critics are jumping up and down, saying this can't be, time is not porous, the experiments are flawed. But because this is the Professor Daryl Bem (he's in your high school textbook for his work on self perception) and because the journal publishing his article is top-of-the-line rigorous, all over the world psychologists are trying to duplicate what Dr. Bem has done. If serious scientists can repeat his results, this story is going to be big.
NPR
Paper
Yet somehow, it's already happened. Somehow, it's already affected you.
Huh?
John Tenniel/Alice in Wonderland Did Alice know?
Already critics are jumping up and down, saying this can't be, time is not porous, the experiments are flawed. But because this is the Professor Daryl Bem (he's in your high school textbook for his work on self perception) and because the journal publishing his article is top-of-the-line rigorous, all over the world psychologists are trying to duplicate what Dr. Bem has done. If serious scientists can repeat his results, this story is going to be big.
NPR
Paper
Best Accomplisment of 2010
Best accomplishment of 2010 would have to be completing 3 subjects and all of my mentoring to be able to apply for my full CPA status.
Three Countries
List three countries you’d like to visit, and why you want to go.
- Egypt - Pyramids and sharks
- New Zealand - The Scenary
- Kenya - Safari
Wordpress Daily/weekly Blog Challenge
The CHallenge
Post Daily for 2011
To help they will be posting up some topics to make it easier to write.
The Why
Because last year has been a lot about consumption of content, and I need to work on a few things and this will be one of the ways I am going to be able to achieve that.
The Pledge
I’ve decided I want to blog more. Rather than just thinking about doing it, I’m starting right now. I will be posting on this blog once a day for all of 2011.
I know it won’t be easy, but it might be fun, inspiring, awesome and wonderful. Therefore I’m promising to make use of The DailyPost, and the community of other bloggers with similiar goals, to help me along the way, including asking for help when I need it and encouraging others when I can.
If you already read my blog, I hope you’ll encourage me with comments and likes, and good will along the way.
Signed,
Bean Counting...
Post Daily for 2011
To help they will be posting up some topics to make it easier to write.
The Why
Because last year has been a lot about consumption of content, and I need to work on a few things and this will be one of the ways I am going to be able to achieve that.
The Pledge
I’ve decided I want to blog more. Rather than just thinking about doing it, I’m starting right now. I will be posting on this blog once a day for all of 2011.
I know it won’t be easy, but it might be fun, inspiring, awesome and wonderful. Therefore I’m promising to make use of The DailyPost, and the community of other bloggers with similiar goals, to help me along the way, including asking for help when I need it and encouraging others when I can.
If you already read my blog, I hope you’ll encourage me with comments and likes, and good will along the way.
Signed,
Bean Counting...
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