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Amazon, the bookshop has introduced a new feature to allow you to search for words in the text of a book. They have catalogued 120,000 containing 33 million pages. It forms part of the normal book search and results on titles and contents are displayed inline. See How to Search in a book here.

logged by Anthony at 9:41:46 AM Link

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen if a old time fantasy, based on history greatest "traditional" heroes. People like Alan Quartermain, played by Sean Connery, Captain Nemo, The Invisible Man and Dr Jekyll/Mr Hyde and others. This group is brought together to stop a world war. A group formed by Unique Individuals. Of course there is a twist, they do have to stop world war but not the way they though. This is a great movie, lots of CGI, but not overdone. I especially like how they show the Jekyll/Hyde transition.

More information at IMDb
Buy the DVD from Amazon.com

logged by Anthony at 9:38:13 AM Link

This little guy is sitting at the bar just staring at his drink. He's been sitting there for half an hour when this big trouble-making truck driver steps next to him, grabs his drink and gulps it down in one swig. The poor little guy starts crying."Come on man, I was just giving you a hard time," says the truck driver. "I'll buy you another drink. I just can't stand to see a man crying."

"This is the worst day of my life," says the little guy between sobs. "I can't do anything right. I overslept and was late to an important meeting, so my boss fired me. When I went to the parking lot, I found my car was stolen and I have no insurance. I grabbed a cab home but, after the cab left, I discovered I had left my wallet in it. At home I found my wife in bed with the gardener. So I came to this bar and was thinking about putting an end to my life.

You show up and drink the damn poison.

logged by Anthony at 9:37:36 AM Link

OFFICE ARITHMETIC

Smart boss + smart employee = profit

Smart boss + dumb employee = production

Dumb boss + smart employee = promotion

Dumb boss + dumb employee = overtime

SHOPPING MATH

A man will pay $2 for a $1 item he needs.

A woman will pay $1 for a $2 item that she doesn't need.

logged by Anthony at 9:37:04 AM Link

I'm glad to see that Canberra appears to not be embracing the military bunker approach to dealing with terrorism. We have to accept that in today's world people can pretty much destroy things if they really want to. Just look at some of the tactics being used in the middle east. shoulder launched rockets could easily do as much damage to a shopping centre as a bomb. We have to try and get along with each other more.

Canberra warned off fortress mentality ABC News

logged by Anthony at 9:35:53 AM Link

A water bearer in China had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole, which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water.

At the end of the long walk from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full. For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water to his house.

Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.

After 2 years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, and because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house."

The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you've watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table. Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house"

Moral: Each of us has our own unique flaws. We're all cracked pots. But it's the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding. You've just got to take each person for what they are, and look for the good in them.

Blessings to all my crackpot friends.

logged by Anthony at 9:35:24 AM Link

Fire does not only bring destruction but also creation. Regrettably the bushfire's early this year have made space for a toxic weed, Patterson's Curse to grow. Most of the hills and paddocks around Canberra have a purple tinge to them. This weed has apparently killed a number of horses and Environment ACT is to being weed spraying to attempt to control the weeds.

Source ABC News

logged by Anthony at 10:29:33 AM Link

Last month a worldwide survey was conducted by the United Nations. The only question asked was: "Would you please give your honest opinion about solutions to the food shortage in the rest of the World?" The survey was a huge failure.

• In Africa they didn't know what 'food' meant.
• In Eastern Europe they didn't know what 'honest' meant.
• In Western Europe they didn't know what 'shortage' was.
• In China they didn't know what 'opinion' meant.
• In the Middle East they didn't know what 'solution' meant.
• In South Africa they didn't know what 'please' meant and
• in the United States they didn't know what 'the rest of the world' meant.

logged by Anthony at 10:03:41 AM Link

Well it is that time of year again where we have to play with our clocks. But do you know how it all started for Australia. Basically a severe drought in Tasmania, which relies heavily on hydro electric power, brought it in the save power and therefore save water. That started in 1967 and Tasmania convinced the other states to trial it in 1971, and it has been in since then. There were other time during World War I and World War II, but that how it got going. About Daylight Saving time National Standards Commission

logged by Anthony at 10:00:34 AM Link

I must be lucky, on Saturday there were severe storms, but I drove from the north side to the south side of Canberra and only saw about 5 mins heavy rain.

logged by Anthony at 9:59:27 AM Link

Eleven people were hanging on a rope under a helicopter, ten men and one woman. The rope was not strong enough to carry them all, so they decided that one has to drop off. Otherwise they are all going to fall. They were not able to choose that person, but then the woman made a very touching speech. She said that she would voluntarily let go of the rope, because as a woman she was used to giving up everything for her husband and kids, and for men in general, without ever getting anything in return.

As soon as she finished her speech, all the men started clapping their hands...

logged by Anthony at 9:59:16 AM Link

So you would like to do magic just like Harry Potter. Well you'll need to do some study and the Frostburg State University in the US has an Honours Program on The Science of Harry Potter.

Things like can anti-gravity research give us a flying broom.

logged by Anthony at 9:53:21 AM Link

A little boy got lost at the YMCA and found himself in the women's locker room. When he was spotted, the room burst into shrieks, with ladies grabbing towels and running for cover. The little boy watched in amazement and then asked, "What's the matter --haven't you ever seen a little boy before?"

logged by Anthony at 9:53:13 AM Link

I'm not sure whether this is true or not, but it's a nice story.....

As we know, we see discrimination in some form or another almost everyday and often times it leaves a sour taste in our mouths. The following story shows us the side of diversity that we are all working for. It is a pleasant twist to see that there are companies and individuals who face discrimination head on, if only one small step at a time.

---

On a British Airways flight from Johannesburg, a middle-aged, well-off white South African lady has found herself sitting next to a black man. She called the cabin crew attendant over to complain about her seating.

"What seems to be the problem Madam?" asked the attendant. "Can't you see?" she said "You've sat me next to a kaffir. I can't possibly sit next to this disgusting human. Find me another seat!" "Please calm down Madam." the stewardess replied. "The flight is very full today, but I'll tell you what I'll do-I'll go and check to see if we have any seats available in club or first class."

The woman cocks a snooty look at the outraged black man beside her (not to mention many of the surrounding passengers). A few minutes later the stewardess returns with the good news, which she delivers to the lady, who cannot help but look at the people around her with a smug and self satisfied grin:

"Madam, unfortunately, as I suspected, economy is full. I've spoken to the cabin services director, and club is also full. However, we do have one seat in first class."

Before the lady has a chance to answer, the stewardess continues ... "It is most extraordinary to make this kind of upgrade, however, and I have had to get special permission from the captain. But, given the circumstances, the captain felt that it was outrageous that someone be forced to sit next to such an obnoxious person." With which, she turned to the black man sitting next to the woman, and said: "So if you'd like to get your things, sir, I have your seat ready for you..."

At which point, apparently the surrounding passengers stood and gave a standing ovation while the black guy walks up to the front of the plane.

---

people will forget what you said

people will forget what you did

but people will never forget how you made them feel

logged by Anthony at 9:52:19 AM Link

Matrix Reloaded is the second movie in the Matrix Trilogy. Regrettably like The Empire Strikes Back and Two Towers this movie suffers from being a 'hump movie'. The first movie introduces you to the new world and shows you things you never though possible. The second movie get everyone into trouble, saving the final action for the final movie.

In Matrix Reloaded, Zion is under the largest ever attack from the machines and Neo, played by Keanu Reeves, embarks on a quest to find The Architect of the matrix. Without giving too much away the movie ends with the struggle continuing and the final line is 'to be concluded'.

The DVD includes an extra disc of making of info. The car chase scene gets a 30 min. moviette, where they show the making of two and a half kilometres of freeway, overpasses and all, because it was too hard to use a real one. They show the tricks used to get cars to roll, trucks to jackknife and how to ride against the traffic, incredible stuff.

More information at IMDb
Buy the DVD from Chaos Music HMV.com.au Amazon.com

logged by Anthony at 9:46:04 AM Link

When my daughter was three, we watched Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs for the first time. The wicked queen appeared, disguised as an old lady selling apples, and my daughter was spellbound. Then Snow White took a bite of the poisoned apple and fell to the ground unconscious. As the apple rolled away, my daughter spoke up. "See, Mom. She doesn't like the skin either."

logged by Anthony at 9:45:36 AM Link

Well it would appear that we don't wish to offend the Chinese Government by having protectors demonstrating their Australian right to free speech and association. But it is curious that the U.S. President requires to be sheltered from such freedoms. As part of the security restrictions put in place for the upcoming visit by the leaders of U.S.A. and China, formal protestors will only be allowed in front of the Parliament House, which is normal. However they will not be allowed to use public address systems that face the house. Likewise the public is banned from going inside the house. What a shame the U.S. President will not be able to view democratic free speech in action.Source Sydney Morning Herald

logged by Anthony at 9:43:50 AM Link

I can only please one person per day. Today is not your day. Tomorrow is not looking good either.

I love deadlines. I especially like the whooshing sound they make as they go flying by.

Tell me what you need, and I'll tell you how to get along without it.

Accept that some days you are the pigeon and some days the statue.

Needing someone is like needing a parachute. If he isn't there the first time, chances are you won't be needing him again.

I don't have an attitude problem, you have a perception problem.

Last night I lay in bed looking up at the stars in the sky, and I thought to myself, where the heck is the ceiling?

My reality check bounced.

On the keyboard of life, always keep one finger on the escape key.

I don't suffer from stress. I am a carrier.

Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, because you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.

Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.

Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience.

A pat on the back is only a few centimetres from a kick in the butt.

Don't be irreplaceable - if you can't be replaced, you can't be promoted.

After any salary raise, you will have less money at the end of the month than you did before.

The more crap you put up with, the more crap you are going to get.

You can go anywhere you want if you look serious and carry a clipboard.

If it wasn't for the last minute, nothing would get done.

logged by Anthony at 9:43:06 AM Link

Meet the Parents is a comedy starring Robert De Niro and Ben Stiller. Ben plays Greg Focker who wants to marry Pam, played by Teri Polo. So Greg gets to 'Meet the Parents' Jack played by Robert De Niro. Now Greg is scarred off by Jack at first and tries to impress the father-in-law to be. Greg then has a whole range of things go wrong that make him out to be a horrible person. There is one scene where Greg is chasing a cat on a roof and drops a cigarette into a gutter full of leaves that starts a huge fire. Very funny movie and you just have to feel sorry for Greg.

More information at IMDb
Buy the DVD from Chaos Music HMV.com.au Amazon.com

logged by Anthony at 12:43:50 PM Link

Check this out, because Microsoft has allegedly infringed on a patent that describes how to run programs interactively in a web page, Microsoft will update IE to ask users to press a button to get the content to run. So web page designers now have to run Javascript files that create the snippet of HTML to get avoid the prompt. What a shame Micro$oft won't pay the licence fees.

logged by Anthony at 12:36:27 PM Link

A mother was showing her son how to zip up his coat. "The secret," she said, "is to get the left part of the zipper to fit in the other side before you try to zip it up." The boy looked at her quizzically..."Why does it have to be a secret?"

logged by Anthony at 11:55:46 AM Link

1. You spend the first two years of their life teaching them to walk and talk. Then, you spend the next sixteen telling them to sit down and shutup.

2. Grandchildren are God's reward for not killing your own children.

3. Mothers of teens now know why some animals eat their young.

4. Children seldom misquote you. In fact, they usually repeat word for word what you shouldn't have said.

5. The main purpose of holding children's parties is to remind yourself that there are children more awful than your own.

6. We child proofed our homes, but they are still getting in.

ADVICE FOR THE DAY:
Be nice to your kids. They will choose your nursing home.

And finally: if you have a lot of tension and you get a headache, do what itsays on the aspirin bottle:

"TAKE TWO ASPIRIN" and "KEEP AWAY FROM CHILDREN"

logged by Anthony at 9:25:33 AM Link

I love the outdoors, and because of my passion for hunting and fishing, my family eats a considerable amount of wild game. So much, in fact, that one evening as I set a platter of broiled venison steaks on the dinner table, my ten-year-old daughter looked up and said, "Boy, it sure would be nice if pizzas lived in the woods."

logged by Anthony at 9:58:10 AM Link

The computer revolution has taken valve driven computers that filled warehouses and put them into microwaves, watches and telephones. The next revolution will take today's warehouse sized computers and put them into your desktop.

A small chip company has developed a co-processor chip that is added as a PCI card that performs 25 gigaflops. Taken to a logical expansion and they say for about $25,000 you could create a computer equivalent to one of the worlds top 500 computer.

Source WIRED

logged by Anthony at 6:05:54 PM Link

No need to worry about the cancer effects of mobile's, that take too long to occur. Now start to worry about the phone exploding on you.

In the last few months, two Nokia phones have exploded on their users causing burns. In one case Nokia said it was the non Nokia battery, but the Dutch government has requested a full inquiry of Nokia.

Source AustralianIT

logged by Anthony at 10:18:36 AM Link

Whenever your children are out of control, you can take comfort from the thought that even God's omnipotence did not extend to His own children. After creating heaven and earth, God created Adam and Eve. And the first thing he said was "DON'T!"

"Don't what?" Adam replied.

"Don't eat the forbidden fruit." God said.

"Forbidden fruit? We have forbidden fruit? Hey Eve, we have forbidden fruit!"

"No Way!"

"Yes Way!"

"Do NOT eat the fruit!", said God.

"Why?"

"Because I am your Father and I said so!", God replied, wondering why He hadn't stopped creation after making the elephants. A few minutes later, God saw His children having an apple break and He was ticked!

"Didn't I tell you not to eat the fruit?", God asked.

"Uh, huh," Adam replied.

"Then why did you?", said the Father.

"I don't know," said Eve.

"She started it!", Adam said

"Did not!"

"Did too!"

"DID NOT!"

Having had it with the two of them, God's punishment was that Adam and Eve should have children of their own. Thus, the pattern was set and it has never changed.

BUT THERE IS REASSURANCE IN THE STORY!

If you have persistently and lovingly tried to give children wisdom and they haven't taken it, don't be hard on yourself. If God had trouble raising children, what makes you think it would be a piece of cake for you?

logged by Anthony at 9:16:55 AM Link

A woman was trying hard to get the ketchup to come out of the bottle. During her struggle the phone rang so she asked her four-year old daughter to answer the phone. "It's the minister, Mommy," the child said to her mother. Then she added., "Mommy can't come to the phone to talk to you right now. She's hitting the bottle."

logged by Anthony at 10:07:53 AM Link

A couple of months ago I stayed at the Coogee Sands Hotel and Apartments. This hotel is close by where "head office" is in Sydney, but nowhere as near as close to the beach as this hotel is. The Hotel overlooks the beach and is right on the end of Coogee's cosmopolitan bistros, cafes, restaurants and clubs, all within easy walking distance especially with the cool breeze off the ocean. I fell the best part about the hotel is that all the rooms area decent size, with great amenities, the apartments are have full facilities, my room included a my own washing machine and dryer. The room rates are good value this close to the city. Click to make a booking

logged by Anthony at 9:37:23 AM Link

Well this week end was not as good as it has been in the past. The Bates brothers in the Team INXS Ford did not finish the Bathurst 1000, retiring on lap 62. Mark Webber also dropped a place in the F1 championship. Mark started 6th but finished 11th at Suzuka. Overall he finished the season in 10th.

logged by Anthony at 10:53:42 AM Link

On the first day of school, a first grader handed his teacher a note from his mother. The note read, "The opinions expressed by this child are not necessarily those of his parents." Another child had a note pinned to their back that read "This child dresses herself. Do not blame fashion choices on the parents."

logged by Anthony at 10:43:26 AM Link

Well we love to hear about rain but now it has started snowing in Canberra. The snow is only ever so light and nothing you could even make a snow ball out of. According to the BoM this happens about once a decade.

logged by Anthony at 4:54:50 PM Link

My son Zachary, 4, came screaming out of the bathroom to tell me he'd dropped his toothbrush in the toilet. So I fished it out and threw it in the garbage. Zachary stood there thinking for a moment, then ran to my bathroom and came out with MY toothbrush. He held it up and said with

a charming little smile, "We better throw this one out too then, 'cause it fell in the toilet a few days ago."

logged by Anthony at 8:46:58 AM Link

The Bulletproof Monk, is an excellent movie about a monk that is entrusted to protect a scroll that if read will give the reader absolute power over the universe. The protector can only be selected by fulfilling a prophecy. Once selected exceptional powers are granted to assist the protector, including never getting old. The movie features some spectacular wire fight scenes as a Nazi officer who unsuccessful in WWII continues to try and obtain the scroll. Excellent viewing.

More information at IMDb
Buy the DVD from Chaos Music HMV.com.au Amazon.com

logged by Anthony at 11:46:05 PM Link

The Three Musketeers is a great movie based on the adventure of three musketeers after The Cardinal has had the Musketeers disbanded. The Cardinal is plotting to kill the King and to take over ruling France. During this time D'Artagnan seeks to join the Musketeers. He runs into the three rebel Musketeers and uncovers the plot to kill the King. Together to try to save the King and expose the Cardinal. This is a really great movie with some excellent sword fight scenes.

More information at IMDb
Buy the DVD from Chaos Music HMV.com.au Amazon.com

logged by Anthony at 1:07:57 PM Link

Has taken an excellent shot (See attachment to see picture quality) ONLY used once. More...

logged by Anthony at 11:38:32 AM Link

I was driving with my three young children one warm summer evening when a woman in the convertible ahead of us stood up and waved. She was stark naked! As I was reeling from the shock, I heard my five-year-old shout from the back seat, "Mom! That lady isn't wearing a seat belt!"

logged by Anthony at 8:31:44 AM Link

Snake Eyes stars Nicholas Cage as a Atlantic City Detective, who is invited to front row seats for the boxing fight of the year. But before the first round finishes, the Defence Secretary is shot in the crowd. Nicholas' best friend is assigned to provide security for the Secretary and the two try to solve the murder before the night is out. However not everything is as it would appear. This is an interesting movie that follows a number of twists and turns. Worth seeing.

More information at IMDb
Buy the DVD from Chaos Music HMV.com.au Amazon.com

logged by Anthony at 1:00:36 PM Link

Well this is the second instalment in The Lord of the Rings story by J.R.R. Tolkien. The Peter Jackson film, makes great use of special effect to take you into the fantasy world of Middle Earth. Peter has said that he had been disappointed with previous efforts to make the Lord of the Rings into a film. Well he has made exceptional use of the latest technology to make the movie almost exceed your imagination. There are battle scenes with tens of thousands of creatures, down to the exacting details of the Ent tree guardians. This is a great film, but does suffer a little by being the middle book. It does not have the warm introduction of the first movie, and you are left a little hanging at the end waiting for the final instalment. It is great viewing, but if you need a story to finish, wait until the Return of the King is out.

More information at IMDb
Buy the DVD from Chaos Music HMV.com.au Amazon.com

logged by Anthony at 12:33:17 PM Link