Anthony's Web Site

James Ensor of Oxfam Community Aid Abroad agrees with my views on Australian Borders and has coined the term "elastic borders". I feel that Australia is behaving in a two faced manner over borders. On one hand we remove Melville Island from refugee status and then fight with East Timor over getting larger borders to get bigger gas and oil revenues.

logged by Anthony at 2:24:12 PM Link

This web page allows you to view you web site through the Safari web browser on a MAC. Great for double checking your design follows standards while maintaining cross browser compatibility.

Also on Pixy's site I found this Favelet for viewing it in LynxView

logged by Anthony at 10:30:51 AM Link

The use of specific font sizes makes web pages harder for users to use. There is no need to specify the height of a font in pixels. Creative use of font size can still be achieved, but still allow users some control to suit their particular circumstances.

This area falls into the same category as using single pixel spacer images. One trend I have begun to notice in web page design, especially Blog skins, is to specifically state the font size in the number of pixels. This make render some web pages unreadable on screen with ever increasing resolutions while at the same time user of low resolution products, like mobile phones and WebTV having to constantly scroll.

The alternative to using pixel height is to use a percentage in the style sheet. If the percentage is used for the body tag then all font sizes start from the same base and then headings and annotations are specified as a percentage of the body size. Browsers are then free to scale the size of the font at the users request, eg IE, View, Text size. A webTV user may want it smaller so then need not scroll some one using as resolution over 1600 may want is larger to make it easier to read.

Information on how to use percentages can be found in the W3C CSS web standards.

logged by Anthony at 9:36:40 AM Link

Basic looks like your classic action flick from the director of Die Hard, and you can just sit there and enjoy the action if you like. Try and follow the story line and work out who did what and I ended up with a Pulp Fiction like story line. There are constant twists and turns you don't know who is good and who is bad, even at the end I still couldn't work it out for some characters. Very involving and an interesting movie, and very good combination of murder mystery and action movie. I look forward to seeing more murder mysteries that don't have little old ladies solving it.

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

logged by Anthony at 10:09:10 AM Link

I recently attended a conference at the InterContinental Burswood Resort in Perth. Being a five star resort with Casino, all the little things are there, the Porter to collect your luggage from the taxi, it has it's own taxi rank, 24 hour room service, a multitude of restaurants, including an open air restaurant in the foyer atrium. This atrium is huge, it extends from the ground level doors up the to top floor of the hotel, 8 levels I think. The security is great, you even need a room keycard to access the floors in the lift. The facility is quite large especially given it is so close to the city. There is the main Hotel, the Casino attached and the conference/convention centre. This includes a full scale theatre. They were playing Mama Mia while I was there. I did not see it, but one of the attendees thought it was a great show. The only down side is that being a resort you don't see or feel the city. So if you want to stay at Perth stay somewhere else, but if you want full on luxury stay here. Oh and on the first morning I had a small incident, the room service breakfast did not arrive until I called and was not quite what I had ordered, fried instead of poached eggs. To their credit it arrived no more than one minute after I called and the attendant did realise the error and offered to get the correct meal, but I didn't want to wait. Click to make a booking

logged by Anthony at 9:33:12 AM Link

I'm looking to develop my own logo and I came across this web page on the trends in logo design. It shows some of the common themes in current logo design, such as the use of shadows, styles, and some specific objects.

logged by Anthony at 12:48:56 PM Link

This is the first book of The Lord Of The Rings series. It follows the adventures for Frodo in a quest to destroy the One ring that rules over all the other rings in Middle Earth. The story is amazing in the richness and detail on the world the J. R. R. Tolkien has created. An all time classic that impresses with the broad feeling created as if you were following along in Middle earth.

Buy it at Seekbooks.com.au Or at Amazon.com

logged by Anthony at 9:55:27 AM Link

The buzz word in today's business world is MARKETING. However, most people often ask for a simple explanation of "Marketing."

Here it is:

You're a woman and you see a handsome guy at a party. You go up to him and say, "I'm fantastic in bed,"

That's Direct Marketing.

You're at a party with a bunch of friends and see a handsome guy. One of your friends goes up to him and pointing at you says, "She's fantastic in bed,"

That's Advertising.

You see a handsome guy at a party. You go up to him and get his telephone number. The next day you call and say,"Hi, I'm fantastic in bed,"

That's Telemarketing.

You're at a party and see a handsome guy. You get up and straighten your dress. You walk up to him and pour him a drink. You say,"May I," and reach up to straighten his tie brushing your breast lightly against his arm, and then say, "By the way, I'm fantastic in bed,"

That's Public Relations.

You're at a party and see a handsome guy. He walks up to you and says,"I hear you're fantastic in bed,"

That's Brand Recognition.

You're at a party and see a handsome guy. You talk him into going home with your friend.

That's a Sales Rep.

Your friend can't satisfy him so he calls you.

That's Tech Support.

You're on your way to a party when you realize that there could be handsome men in all these houses you're passing. So you climb onto the roof of one situated toward the centre and shout at the top of your lungs, "I'm fantastic in bed!"

That's Junk Mail.

logged by Anthony at 9:23:45 AM Link

Dave is a real feel good comedy with a romantic. The story begins with the President of the U.S. going into a coma in not so nice circumstances and Dave is asked to double for the President to 'maintain stability' for the country. However it is clear that the political minders have their own agenda and when Dave is put in the position of having to veto a bill that would help the homeless he puts in place a plan of his own to save the bill. The ensuing mudslinging between Dave and the minders, who are all playing up to the public about him being President is great comedy. This is and oldie but a goodie.

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

logged by Anthony at 9:42:11 AM Link

For those of you planning on seeing the third LOTR movie at the theatre her are some survival tips.

1. Stand up halfway through the movie and yell loudly, "Wait... where the hell is Harry Potter?"
2. Block the entrance to the theatre while screaming: "YOU SHALL NOT PASS!" - After the movie, say "Lucas could have done it better."
3. At some point during the movie, stand up and shout: "I must go! Middle Earth needs me!" and run and try to jump into the screen. After bouncing off, return quietly to your seat.
4. Play a drinking game where you have to take a sip every time someone says: "The Ring."
5. Point and laugh whenever someone dies.
6. Ask the nearest ring-nut if he thinks Gandalf went to Hogwarts
7. Finish off every one of Elrond's lines with "Mr. Anderson."
8. When Aragorn is crowned king, stand up and at the top of your lungs sing, "And I did it.... MY way...!"
9. At the end, complain that Gollum was offensive to Ethiopians
10. Talk like Gollum all through the movie. At the end, bite off someone's finger and fall down the stairs.
11. When Shelob appears, pinch the guy in front of you on the back of the neck.
12. Dress up as old ladies and re-enact "The Battle of Helms Deep" Monty Python style.
13. When Denethor lights the fire, shout "Barbecue!"
14. Ask people around you who they think is the next "Terminator" sent from the Middle Earth of the future to assassinate Frodo Baggins
15. In TTT when the Ents decide to march to war, stand up and shout "RUN FOREST, RUN!"
16. Every time someone kills an Orc, yell: "That's what I'm Tolkien about!" See how long it takes before you get kicked out of the theatre.
17. During a wide shot of a battle, inquire, "Where's Waldo?"
18. Talk loudly about how you heard that there is a single frame of a nude Elf hidden somewhere in the movie.
19. Start an Orc sing-a-long.
20. Come to the premiere dressed as Frankenfurter and wander around looking terribly confused.

logged by Anthony at 9:39:22 AM Link

1. I can only please one person per day. Today is not your day.
   Tomorrow is not looking good, either.
2. I love deadlines.
   I especially like the whooshing sound they make as they go flying by.
3. Tell me what you need, and I'll tell you how to get along without it.
4. Accept that some days you are the pigeon and some days the statue.
5. Needing someone is like needing a parachute.
   If he isn't there the first time, chances are you won't be needing him again.
6. I don't have an attitude problem, you have a perception problem.
7. Last night I lay in bed looking up at the stars in the sky, I thought to myself, where the heck is the ceiling?
8. My reality check bounced.
9. On the keyboard of life, always keep one finger on the escape key.
10. I don't suffer from stress. I am a carrier.
11. You are slower than a herd of turtles stampeding through peanut butter.
12. Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, because you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.
13. Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.
14. Never argue with an idiot.
    They drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience.
15. A pat on the back is only a few centimetres from a kick in the butt.
16. Don't be irreplaceable - if you can't be replaced, you can't be promoted.
17. After any salary raise, you will have less money at the end of the month than you did before.
18. The more crap you put up with, the more crap you are going to get
19. You can go anywhere you want if you look serious and carry a clipboard.
20. Eat one live toad the first thing in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day.
21. People who go to conferences are the ones who shouldn't.
22. If it wasn't for the last minute, nothing would get done.
23. When you don't know what to do, walk fast and look worried.
24. Following the rules will not get the job done.
25. When confronted by a difficult problem, you can solve it more easily by reducing it to the question, "How would the Lone Ranger handle this?"

logged by Anthony at 9:17:17 AM Link

(As answered by elementary school students)

How Do You Decide Who To Marry?

You got to find somebody who likes the same stuff. Like, if you like sports, she should like it that you like sports, and she should keep the chips and dip coming.
- Alan, age 10

No person really decides before they grow up who they're going to marry. God decides it all way before, and you get to find out later who you're stuck with.
- Kirsten, age 10

What is the Right Age To Get Married?

Twenty-three is the best age because you know the person FOREVER by then.
- Camille, age 10

No age is good to get married at. You got to be a fool to get married.
- Freddie, age 6

How Can A Stranger Tell If Two People Are Married?

You might have to guess, based on whether they seem to be yelling at the same kids.
- Derrick, age 8

What Do Your Think Your Mom and Dad Have In Common?

Both don't want any more kids.
- Lori, age 8

What Do Most People Do On A Date?

Dates are for having fun, and people should use them to get to know each other. Even boys have something to say if you listen long enough.
- Lynnette, age 8

On the first date, they just tell each other lies, and that usually gets them interested enough to go for a second date.
- Martin, age 10

What Would You Do On A First Date That Was Turning Sour?

I'd run home and play dead. The next day I would call all the newspapers and make sure they wrote about me in all the dead columns.
- Craig, age 9

When Is It Okay To Kiss Someone?

When they're rich.
- Pam, age 7

The law says you have to be eighteen, so I wouldn't want to mess with that.
- Curt, age 7

The rule goes like this: If you kiss someone, then you should marry them & have kids with them. It's the right thing to do.
- Howard, age 8

Is It Better To Be Single or Married?

It's better for girls to be single but not for boys. Boys need someone to clean up after them.
- Anita, age 9

How Would The World Be Different If People Didn't Get Married?

There sure would be a lot of kids to explain, wouldn't there?
- Kelvin, age 8

How Would You Make a Marriage Work?

Tell your wife that she looks pretty even if she looks like a truck.
- Ricky, age 10

logged by Anthony at 9:36:25 AM Link

This is a classic terrorist rescue movie staring Kurt Russell, Halle Berry and what has to be one of the shortest appearances that still gets a top billing by Steven Seagal. Steven play Lt. Col. Austin Travis and is killed in a failed boarding of the hijacked plane early in the movie. The action is intense and looking at this movie with a post Sept. 11 view is interesting. The terrorists refer to the Quran and plan to kill people using an airliner as a nerve gas missile. It has great action and keeps you on the edge of your seat, although you can tell how it ends, but not how they will get there. There is one glaring tech mistake. The bomb has a computer trigger with an onboard hard drive. Only problem is you can see the platters and heads operating freely in open air. If only the producers knew that a cigarette smoke particle is about twice as big as the gap between the platter and heads, let alone dust and rubbish in a cargo bay.

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

logged by Anthony at 9:58:48 AM Link

Water consumption has been rising in Canberra for the last 6 days. The Autumn target consumption is 127ML and the last three days consumption have been well over that limit. Everyone needs to remain vigilante in saving water

logged by Anthony at 9:37:21 AM Link

ColorMatch Remix is a colour combination service that displays variations on a colour for web page design. ColorMatch Remix via kadyellebee

logged by Anthony at 12:43:15 PM Link

Check out the Sesame Street U.S. Terror Alert System

Geek and Proud

logged by Anthony at 12:28:17 PM Link

Australia's Government appears to be heading off in to la la land. Look at the bizarre action taken in recent times.

People Smugglers & Illegal Immigrants

Australian has neglected international obligations to people in trouble by lying and then dumping people into other countries. The UNHRC is scathing in Australians treatment. Sydney Morning Herald Radio Australia BBC News

The Prime Minister had to accept the Government did not tell the truth about the 14 Turkish people claiming asylum while in Australia. Really being on Australia does not matter, but our officials have to ignore/deny the claims and dump them into Indonesia. ABC News The Age Radio Australia NEWS.com.au The Age

The 14 Turkish people arrived within Australia's Migration Zone and having failed to stop them the Government then retrospectively moves the Zone away from them. ABC News The Age Sydney Morning Herald

The ministers were happy to have succeeded in stopping another boat of illegal immigrants, "that did not claim asylum" but they did. And why would we want to move the Migration Zone if they were not claiming asylum. Gee the Australian Navy is more powerful than a boatload of people fleeing a country. Australia is in denial Sydney Morning Herald

Khaleed Daoed faces court over the deaths of peoples he was 'smuggling' into Australia. BBC News

Bastian Disun and Bastian Disun were convicted of people smuggling. This was the start of the Tampa affair where Australia denied helping people rescued from the sea by the freighter Tampa. This was the start of Australia dumping immigrants on other countries. BBC News

Australia uses Indonesia as a dumping ground for Turkish refugees that landed within Australia's Migration Zone. BBC News

Fifty Vietnamese were the first to suffer Australia's denial of its borders. BBC News

Then there is the whole SIEV X affair. SIEVX.com and Child "truth" overboard affair. truthoverboard.com

This is an excellent debate on the immigration issue and in includes a reminder that the first Boat people we convicts from England in 1788. BBC News

East Timor

Australia tries to bully the poorest country in the world into giving up its most valuable resource, oil/gas in the ocean between Australia. Not happy with accepting a line down the middle Australia tries pushes. BBC News

Iraq

Why did we invade. To increase international Security. No The war has caused more death and done nothing to stop the people that committed the terrorists acts on Sept. 11. The world agreed to invade Afghanistan, but not Iraq. Parliament Current Issues Brief No 19 To stop a dictator, by why ignore Zimbabwe. Economic Examiner

Why did the Prime Minister have to mislead Australia about Iraq. Sydney Morning Herald The Age

Code of Conduct

Do you think any of these Ministers will face the Ministerial Code of Conduct over the immigration lies not likely.

Phillip Ruddock had friends accepting money so he would exercise a Ministerial power to approve Visa. Sydney Morning Herald So much for

Ministers should not exercise the influence obtained from their public office, or use official information, to obtain any improper benefit for themselves or another.

He just get to be promoted to Attorney General Radio Australia

After all the Prime Minister made sure his brother's company did not get investigate by ensuring it's employees were paid within 30 days 7:30 report. Meanwhile Ansett Employees still wait for entitlements two years later. The Age despite the Ansett Levy making a profit. Herald Sun

The Australian Government must not be re-elected.

logged by Anthony at 8:49:00 AM Link

logged by Anthony at 2:15:41 PM Link

X-Men 2 in the sequel to the Marvel Comics movie X-Men, based on the comic book with the same name. The first movie had been criticized for being too slow, they had to introduce the characters into the movie. Well this time around no such introduction is required an the movie gets straight into the action and there is plenty of it. The movie explores the tension between the humans and X-Men mutants. It jumps straight into assassinating the President of the U.S. From the ending, clearly there will be more to the saga.

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

logged by Anthony at 9:24:25 AM Link

I came across this Rainwater tank ready reckoner from Environment ACT. It estimates your water requirements, how much water you could harvest, how much you would need to use it in your house, and how much you could store to help in picking a rainwater tank. Rainwater tank ready reckoner

logged by Anthony at 8:44:17 AM Link

I initialled developed this weBOLG to allow me to cut down on the number of email's I sent. You know how you get a stack of emails from friends all telling the latest joke etc. It get annoying when you get the same joke up to three or more times a day. So I thought if I put together a blog I could post the jokes, tech news and local news items. My friends and family could then read my blog. That way I wasn't nagging them with email and they could still 'catch up' if they wanted to. I also made my stuff available to peoples like you.

logged by Anthony at 8:25:25 AM Link

An old man was sitting on a bench at the mall.

A young man walked up to the bench and sat down. He had spiked hair in all different colours; green, red, orange, blue and yellow.

The old man just stared. Every time the young man looked, the old man was staring.

The young man finally said sarcastically,

"What's the matter old timer, never done anything wild in your life?"

Without batting an eye. The old man replied.

"got drunk once in Japan and had sex with a parrot, I was just wondering if you were my son"

logged by Anthony at 1:10:00 PM Link

I guess the water problem must not be quite as bad as it would first appear. Local water restrictions have been relaxed to allow cars to be washed from bucket only. Car may not be washed more than once a week. Source ABC News ACTEW

logged by Anthony at 10:57:24 AM Link

Daddy Day Care is a movie about a family that faces the usual problem of finding day care for their preschooler. This is made worse by Charlie the father, played by Eddie Murphy losing his job. After no luck finding decent affordable care Charlie and his work mate Phil, who also lost his job, start "Daddy Day Care". This is a funny movie that explores the problems of advertising executives trying to care for children. They get involved in a fight with a local prep school that tries to use Children's Services to close them down. Overall a good laugh and family viewing.

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

logged by Anthony at 9:54:24 AM Link

Deep Impact is one of a groups of movies that has to make you wonder and movie making conspiracies. How can there be some many movies like Deep Impact, and Armageddon released so close together and then follow up with The Core all based on the U.S. saving the world from nature.

Anyway Deep Impact again has the U.S., with others for a change, trying the put a comet off course to stop it from destroying earth. Same basic plot man goes to comet, original plans fails alternate plan has to be made up. At least there is no military style "Plan B" that includes killing themselves, like other movies using this plot. This is good viewing.

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

logged by Anthony at 9:54:14 AM Link

Chicken run is a animated comedy about the plight of some chickens in a chicken run. It is not animated in the carton style. It is in the style of Thomas the Tank engine in that it uses clay-animation instead of pictures. The story line is very funny and this is a movie I like. The story starts with Rocky, a circus chicken that escapes from the circus into the chicken run. The chickens of the chicken run plan to escape and mistaken believe that Rocky can fly, so they ask him to teach them. The story then follows their escapades as they plan the escape while the owners of the run plan to start selling chicken pies instead of eggs. It has some great takes offs including scenes reminiscent of Raiders of the Lost Ark. A great family movie.

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

logged by Anthony at 9:54:07 AM Link

logged by Anthony at 9:31:30 AM Link

There were two blonde fellas working for the city council, one would dig a hole, the other would follow behind him and fill the hole in. They worked furiously all day without rest, one guy digging a hole, the other guy filling it in again. An onlooker was amazed at their hard work, but couldn't understand what they were doing. So he asked the hole digger, "I appreciate the effort you are putting into your work, but what's the story? You dig a hole and your partner follows behind and fills it up again." The hole digger wiped his brow and sighed, "Well normally we are a three-man team, but the bloke who plants the trees is sick today......

logged by Anthony at 9:01:43 AM Link

The Core can only be considered an action comedy. The movie takes the similar approach to Armageddon, Deep Impact, etc. Basically the world is in trouble and the U.S. is here to save it. At least in The Core the U.S. is cleaning up it own mess. The story line is basically that the U.S. tested a earthquake making weapon and this has upset the core of the Earth, causing magnetic disturbance that threatens the planet. So a team is put together to save Earth. Very predictable, easy viewing. Errors include using http error 404, page not found, for access denied, not 401, but hey I'm a geek.

More information at IMDb
Buy the DVD from Amazon.com

logged by Anthony at 10:17:02 AM Link

1. A king size waterbed holds enough water to fill a 2000 sq. foot house 4 inches deep.
2. A 3-year-old's voice is louder than 200 adults in a crowded restaurant.
3. If you hook a dog leash over a ceiling fan, the motor is not strong enough to raise a 42 pound boy wearing Batman underwear and a Superman cape. .....It is strong enough (if tied to a paint can), to spread paint on all four walls of a 20 by 20 foot room.
4. You should not throw baseballs up when the ceiling fan is on. When using the ceiling fan as a bat, you have to throw the ball up a few times before you get a hit. ....A ceiling fan can hit a baseball a long way.
5. The glass in windows (even double pane) does not stop a baseball hit by a ceiling fan.
6. When you hear the toilet flush and the words "Uh-oh," it's already too late.
7. Brake fluid mixed with Clorox makes smoke, and lots of it.
8. A six-year-old can start a fire with a flint rock even though a 36-year-old man says they can only do it in the movies.
9. Certain LEGOs will pass through the digestive tract of a four-year-old.
10. Play Dough and Microwave should never be used in the same sentence.
11. Super glue is forever.
12. No matter how much Jelly you put in a swimming pool, you still can't walk on water.
13. Pool filters do not like Jelly.
14. VCR's do not eject sandwiches even though TV commercials show they do.
15. Garbage bags do not make good parachutes.
16. Marbles in gas tanks make lots of noise when driving.
17. You probably do not want to know what that odour is.
18. Always look in the oven before you turn it on.
19. Plastic toys do not like ovens.
20. The fire department in Austin, TX has a 5-minute response time.
21. The spin cycle on the washing machine does not make earthworms dizzy.
22. It will, however, make cats dizzy.
23. Cats throw up twice their body weight when dizzy.

logged by Anthony at 9:48:36 AM Link

Googong dams water level has finally risen. The recent rain had slowed the drop in the water level, but the level has finally risen. I am sure the opening of the Bendora water treatment plant has also helped. Although the level is still down around 40%. I am sure that water restrictions will remain at stage 3 for the rest of summer.

logged by Anthony at 9:47:18 AM Link

The W3C has presented the US patent Office with evidence that Eolas patent is invalid and that embedding content into web pages is prior art.

logged by Anthony at 9:46:34 AM Link

What Women Want is a romantic comedy about an advertising executive, Nick Marshall played by Mel Gibson, who misses out on landing "his" job when Darcy McGuire, played by Helen Hunt is recruited from outside his firm. As part of trying to increase the market share Darcy asks her new staff to try and appeal to women and gives them a pink box of women's products to try and develop ideas for. Nick while trying this electrocutes himself in the bath and acquires the ability to hear what women are thinking. The movie is a great comedy, and includes some great ideas, there is a scene where having discovered his new talent he tries to listen to two "tea" ladies and hears nothing. This is great viewing.

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

logged by Anthony at 9:43:30 AM Link