topicalhuman.com

I thought this was pretty damn funny, so I’m linking to it. I had a quick look at some of the other images, and it is all pretty funny. I have a soft spot for warped-humour comics, so I realise a lot of people won’t find it that funny. That’s okay - it’s the people who just don’t get it at all I’m worried about.

Thanks to my mate Bruce Hart (a totally awesome computer generated animation guru) for the link. Bruce, get a website!

I normally don’t like posting a bunch of links here, without at least trying to add another perspective. However, I’m feeling lousy today (I have a pounding headache), and I need to reboot my PC, so here are a bunch of links which I’ve either haven’t read yet, but want to, or links I have read and wanted to post something about them.

Internet Neutrality:
David Weinberger on why internet neutrality matters.
Get news and find out what you and I can do to try and maintain internet neutrality.
Recent news on US legislation affecting internet neutrality.

Sony ’s evil DRM:
The back story behind this and what has been happening recently.
Sony’s advice to ‘fix’ the problem. [I’m sure lots of people agree that the best fix would be to not implement this stupid, invasive DRM stuff in the first place]

Interesting articles:
Why turning off the TV is good for you - another great post from Kathy Sierra.
“The April Revolution in Nepal will go down in world history as the first big revolution of the 21st century“.

Other stuff I want to check out:
Newsgator plugin for MS Outlook.
Firefox good, IE bad.
Online invoicing software.

I think most of my friends would agree that I have a slightly weird sense of humour. So perhaps this hilarious Red Meat comic isn’t going to be everyone’s cup of tea. Or should I say scotch on the rocks…..

I’ve just created (very easily and quickly, as you will see…) a web page here thanks to Google. I’ve just posted a fairly random, old photo there, but I’m wondering if it may be a useful way of easily storing photo’s online. I guess Flickr already does something like this though…I guess I have to look into the best way to publish/store photo’s a little more. Oh well, it’s all a learning curve. Any suggestions Ben?

Woo-Hoo! I’m off to North Stradbroke Island this weekend, to meet up with my friend Neil Jones and a bunch of other people. We’re going to be celebrating Neil’s milestone of 100 days off the booze. Congratulations, Neil! Here’s to your fulfilling, sober future!

[Note] If you live on North Stradbroke Island and need any accountancy services, Neil is the guy to talk to. If you’re interested, just leave a comment here, and I’ll let you know how to contact him.

I just read this article in The Register which says a West Australian man has been convicted under Australia’s recently introduced Anti-Spam laws. I’ve often wondered how effective the laws will actually be, and although one conviction doesn’t prove much either way, it is at least a warning to other offenders. Apparently sentencing will happen at a later, as yet unspecified date.

For those who don’t know what State of Origin is, it is an annual three game series between Rugby League state sides Queensland and New South Wales.

I’m a Queensland supporter, and for what it is worth (not much, I suspect) here are my selections for the Queensland side:

Fullback: Darren Lockyer (c)
Wing: Rhys Wesser
Centre: Justin Hodges
Centre: Willie Tonga
Wing: Matt Sing
Five-Eighth: Jonathan Thurston
Halfback: Scott Prince
Lock: Travis Norton
Second Row: David Stagg
Second Row: Michael Crocker
Prop: Petero Civoniceva
Hooker: Cameron Smith
Prop: Shane Tronc

Reserves: Matt Bowen, Tonie Carroll, Sam Thaiday, Carl Webb

I think some other players who may come into contention, pending form/injury/suspension are: Tim Smith, Corey Parker, Rod Jensen, Chris Flannery, Casey McGuire.

I also have to say that if Billy Slater wasn’t suspended, if Ty Williams wasn’t injured, and if Shane Webcke wasn’t retired from representative football, I think they would all be in the side.

I realise that there are only five players in my list of seventeen that don’t play for the Bronco’s or the Cowboys. I’ve tried to be completely unbiased - I don’t really care what clubs they play for, just if they’ll help Queensland win. Many people would think switching Lockyer (back) to Fullback is crazy, but I think Prince and Thurston are by far the form halves eligible for Queensland, and not only do they deserve their spot in the team, but it is going to be necessary to beat New South Wales.

What do you reckon? I’d love to hear what everyone else thinks.

[Update] B Walz make a great suggestion in the comments that Kirk Reynoldson would be a great addition to the Queensland back row. Also, in light of Karmichael Hunt’s call up to the national side a couple of days ago, I think it is pretty unlikely that he’ll be left out of the Queensland side. Although it wouldn’t be my choice, I can see Scott Prince missing selection, with Lockyer and Thurston playing the halves, and Hunt at Fullback. I guess we’ll find out when selections get announced next month.

[Update #2] After watching the NRL Sunday Footy Show this morning, it looks unlikely that Michael Crocker will be available for State of Origin selection due to probable suspension after a dangerous lifting tackle against South Sydney yesterday. That is a real shame, as he has been playing some fantastic football recently. Paul Vautin also suggested that he had some inside news that Greg Inglis is highly likely to get picked for the Queensland side. It will be interesting to see if that happens, and if it does whether he plays at fullback, on the wing, or off the interchange bench.

I am a huge fan of the BBC television series from a few years back called The Office. I own the whole thing on DVD. If you’ve ever worked in an office (and the experience hasn’t left you brain dead) you’ll know this is not only great comedy, but it is actually a fairly accurate representation of what office life is often like. Ricky Gervais co-wrote the office with his regular collaborator Stephen Merchant.

Together they also recently ran one of the more popular podcasts series going around, which can be found here.

However, I’ve just found out that they have a new show coming out called Extras (which I found via a link from d*s). Actually it is pretty old news, but it is new to me, so I’m posting about it anyway. I wonder when it will be screened/available here in Australia?

If there is one thing that I absolutely think I am an expert on, it’s Procrastination. Yes, I am a master at delaying those tasks which I have to do, but which I don’t really want to do. (In fact, I’ve just realised that by posting this, I am engaging in procrastination right now!)

However, its a problem I’ve recognised and one which I try to beat. I also recognise that many other people have this problem. Which is why I thought I would share this quote from Ramit Sethi:

It’s funny how so often, it’s not the Great Idea that makes champions, but the continued discipline to do the little things.

True words.

I just has a phone call from my youngest brother Levi. He was calling from the office of the coach of the Colorado School of Mines Men’s Basketball team. It looks as though he may be transferring there to pursue his academic and basketball education. He seems very impressed with the academic aspects of this university (they focus on engineering’s multiple disciplines), and is also very impressed with the coach and his potential future team mates. I hope it works out for him.

Good luck, Levi.

[Update, 18th April: Levi has confirmed that he will be attending the Colorado School of Mines when the school re-opens after the summer break.]

[Update, 10th May: Levi has put up a post about it here. I think it’s funny that in the comments, Levi is still getting compared to Seth, albeit favourably.]