Jonny's Jibbering

What a farce

2008-08-07T15:19:00.004+12:00

Today's NYTimes reports on the first conviction from a Gitmo detainee So first they hold a mock trial after 5 years of detention. But just in case their puppets don't sentence their man for long enough, there's a backup plan.

The Bush administration has long asserted that it could continue to hold detainees even if they were acquitted or given short sentences because they are designated enemy combatants who, according to the administration, can be held until the end of the war on terror.

And when, exactly, was the war on terror ending? We have always been at war with Eurasia haven't we?

The treatment and "trial" of Guantanamo detainees has been a disgrace from the start to finish (except that it's never set to finish). One can only hope the next US president might restore a modicum of credibility to the process.

Ginger beer

2008-07-31T14:01:00.000+12:00

For 4 x 1.25L bottles
1 tsp dried yeast granules
2 tsp sugar
½ cup warm water

2 cups sugar
1 Tbsp ground ginger
1 tsp lemon essence
1 tsp tartaric acid
2 litres hot water
2 litres cold water

Stir the first three ingredients together in a glass and leave to stand in a warm place.

Measure the remaining sugar, ginger, lemon essence and tartaric acid into a clean bucket. Pour on the hot water and stir to dissolve the sugar. Add the cold water to cool the liquid down.

When you are sure the lemon syrup is no hotter than lukewarm, add the bubbling yeast. Leave in the lightly covered bucket for 24-36 hours, then strain into four thoroughly clean 1.25 litre plastic soft-drink bottles. Fill each bottle up to within 3 cm of the top.

(From my mummy, I think originally from Allison Holst)

Mango float

2008-07-29T20:38:00.001+12:00

Ingredients:
  1 can/packet of whipping cream
  1 can of condensed milk (Carnation)
  3 packs of Graham crackers
  1 kg of fresh mangoes

Procedure:
1/ Mix the cream with the can of milk
Using a wide dish/pan
2/ Make a layer of Graham crackers
3/ Put a layer of thinly-sliced mango on top of the crackers
4/ Spread a layer of the cream/condensed milk on top of the mango
5/ Repeat #2,3,4 another two times (giving a total of 9 layers)
6/ Sprinkle a layer of crushed Graham crackers on top of the final
cream layer
7/ Place in freezer until ready to serve.

Baked oatmeal

2008-07-29T20:35:00.001+12:00

1 cup milk
1 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
2 T sugar
1 egg
2 T oil

Mix it all together and place it in a baking dish and cook till a toothpick comes out easily.

(from mother)

Chocolate self-saucing pudding

2008-07-29T20:34:00.000+12:00

Ingredients (serves 4)

1 cup self-raising flour
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
1/2 cup brown sugar
80g butter, melted, cooled
1/2 cup milk
1 egg, lightly beaten
thick cream and berries, to serve
Sauce
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa powder, sifted
1 1/4 cups boiling water

Method

Preheat oven to 180°C. Grease an 8-cup capacity ovenproof baking dish. Sift flour and cocoa into a large bowl. Stir in sugar.
Combine butter, milk and egg in a jug. Slowly add to flour mixture, whisking until well combined and smooth. Spoon into baking dish. Smooth top.
Make sauce: Sprinkle combined sugar and cocoa over pudding.
Slowly pour boiling water over the back of a large metal spoon to cover pudding. Place dish onto a baking tray. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until pudding bounces back when pressed gently in centre. Serve hot with cream and berries.

Notes & tips

Hint: Pouring the boiling water over a spoon prevents the water from disturbing the sugar mixture too much.
For an adult twist on this pudding, try reducing milk to 1/3 cup and adding 2 tablespoons of Kahlua to the pudding mixture in step 2.
To reheat leftovers, spoon into a microwave-safe bowl. Cover loosely with plastic wrap. Heat for 2 to 4 minutes on MEDIUM (50%) power.

(from Taste.com.au)

This may be of interest to some of you...

2008-07-25T19:41:00.004+12:00

(Click the picture for a larger, better quality view)

The Firefox is coming, the firefox is coming

2008-06-16T23:57:00.001+12:00

The next version of Firefox (3) is released tomorrow. Highly recommended everyone use it. Has improved phishing detection, faster and nifty new features.

Skype: Look for alternatives

2008-06-16T00:03:00.004+12:00

I don't like Skype and I never have. It's nothing personal. I'm just disappointed that it is 2008 and the IM/VoIP consumer market is a fractured group of un-interoperable proprietary protocols. Add in ISPs (or in my case a uni) that doesn't get the idea of the internet (dumb network people!) and blocked ports etc. (in my case everything but HTTP/HTTPS) so I can't use Jabber/XMPP or SIP (without proxies) and it's even worse.

The best hope for the future seems to be Google actually putting some muscle into Google Talk and their acquisition of Grand Central. Or some other startup doing it for them. I sincerely look forward to when Skype is just one minor player in a inter-operating commodity market and VoIP is not considered novel.

So it's no secret that I don't love Skype. But it does work. And by misbehaving it manages to get around the brain dead internet access policies of many places. And with the above caveats I've been reasonably pleased with Skype and with family/friends around the world I've used their (paid for) SkypeOut facility to good effect.

But despite me being a good, paying customer Skype seems determined to drive me away. Two weeks ago I found that Skype had blocked my ability to use SkypeOut saying "Your SkypeOut Account has been blocked." Thanks. No warning. I have paid Skype money for SkypeOut facilities that I can't use.

But these things happen right. So I posted a support request. And another one. And another one. I've posted in the Skype forums (apparently I'm not the only one with these problems). I have heard nothing official from Skype and judging from other comments in the forums it could be awhile yet. Meanwhile my purchase Skype credit creeps towards expiring and Skype enjoys a small interest free loan on my money.

Skype seems to have forgotten a rather basic rule of business. When you take someone's money in return for providing a service, then provide the service or give the money back. Please, someone, develop a credible alternative to Skype. You'll have my business!! Unfortunately, I've yet to find a nice alternative to Skype that works behind my uni firewall so I'll keep trying to get it fixed. But my customer loyalty is negative.

Unfortunately I don't know of any really compelling replacements for Skype that works in most internet situations (where every internet provider takes it upon themselves to randomly block a few ports) so you may be best to use Skype. But my advice, if you can find an alternative, use it, particularly if it is standards compliant. Some options Google Talk (can't call POTS numbers) or the Gizmo project.

Bottom line: Dance on their grave when they go out of business and get replaced by a standard.

Don't buy from Asys Computers

2008-06-15T23:55:00.006+12:00

Update 6Aug08
[pending legal advice this post has been removed]
for some other's experiences with Asys.com.au see here.

Also comments have been disabled for this post.

Recommended RAM supplier: Upgradeable.com.au

2008-06-15T23:55:00.005+12:00

I have purchased RAM twice from Upgradeable.com.au. Both times they have offered excellent prices, free shipping, prompt delivery and clear communication.

If you are in Australia and in need of a RAM upgrade (often a cheap way of extending the lifetime of a computer) check them out.

Bottom line: Highly recommended.

Sage - open source MATLAB/Mathematica

2008-05-06T16:08:00.004+12:00

I cannot believe I have never heard of Sage before (see also the online version). It is very cool. This is a cool and seemingly mature open source alternative to Mathematica/MATLAB etc. Python based, with a slick web interface.

I wonder when Google Docs will open up to let 3rd parties incorporate file-types - it would fit right in.

HT: Michael Nielson

The mongrel mob in NZ

2008-05-05T14:21:00.004+12:00

I've just finished watching Ross Kemp's documentary on the NZ mongrel mob
Part 1, 2, 3 (Warning: This contains descriptions of disturbing violence)

I think overall Ross manages to make the documentary about understanding the mob more than simple sensationalism and therefore worth watching. I never knew the origins on the mob or much about changes modern recreational drugs were having.

I wasn't sure how to react. Sadness? Anger? Empathy? But I think actually this documentary exposes hope. The mob form from a dissatisfaction with the way society is and a need for strong friendship, a search for loyalty, respect and a place to belong. Heartbreakingly, this leads them to band together in a grab for power. Thoughtless, violent short-term efforts to gain respect (through violent intimidation, forced sex) and fulfillment (drugs) abound. But underneath all that, are people, needy humans trying to solve their problems. I don't have answers, but that gives me hope that there is some.

In considering the origins of the mob as hurt, abused, social welfare kids I thought of the positive. Those who do show love and acceptance to hurting children, far more than any police drug raid, are solving NZ's gang problems.

PS. It's not clear to me how trying to ban gang patches is anything other than a pointless infringement of freedom of expression (giving local councils the unilateral ability to designate a group as a gang is problematic, to say the least) and that will have little effect on the gangs who are already openly at war with society and the law.

My hero, Horton

2008-04-21T00:32:00.003+12:00

I meant what I said, and I said what I meant.
An elephant's faithful, one hundred per cent!

Dr Seuss' Horton

Transport quote

2008-03-30T21:51:00.001+13:00

"[They will] only encourage the common people to move about needlessly." the Duke of Wellington, on early steam railroads

(Source: NY Times)

"I told you to be careful..."

2008-02-13T16:41:00.002+13:00

The poor man. I can just hear his mother saying "I told you not to run with it. I told you."

Life lesson: Never own anything worth more than $100000 that is possible to drop.

Australia says sorry

2008-02-13T16:25:00.002+13:00

Today, as PM Kevin Rudd opened Australian parliament for 2008 he made an apology to the "stolen generation" of Australian Aboriginals. There was a mixed reaction by the main opposition party.

Regardless of debate about if it is tokenism or the beginning of real improvement for Australian aboriginals, it's certainly a historic moment for Australia.

A quick state of the world

2008-02-03T20:12:00.000+13:00

Two great 20 minute talks (the first is extremely well done) on the state of world health/economy.

The website for creating your own cool graphics.

Thanks to GB for introducing me to this.

I must have gotten into machine learning at just the right time.

2008-02-03T16:15:00.000+13:00

Match-making, spiritual growth ... what next?

I must say I'm dubious about them both. Does that make me a sad romantic who can't handle the truth?

How much faith do you have in the free market?

2008-01-29T02:05:00.001+13:00

Two CNet editors debates Gate's compassionate corporations: here
and here.

See also The Social Responsibility of Business is to Increase its Profits.

Welcome to democracy

2008-01-29T00:44:00.000+13:00

It's unfortunate that in the furor surrounding the Exclusive Brethren's participation in the last NZ election that the resounding success of democracy has been ignored. Whilst it is quite correct that the Brethren should have been open about their involvement in the election right from the beginning (and not to be accused of understatement: I agree that lack of clarity about who was behind their efforts, commissioning private detectives to follow key Labour figures etc. was a serious error, unbecoming (and perhaps illegal)).

However, few seem have noticed the resounding success this story holds. I'm no fan of the Brethren and their views. But I 100% support their right to be involved in our democracy. Last election, saw, for the first time in their history perhaps, the Brethren feeling that they too could participate in NZ democracy, albeit not by voting, but at least by speaking up. I'm delighted to see more recently that it looks as though the Brethren may
even vote in the upcoming election. When groups feel they can express their views through the NZ political system that's a great thing - and it makes NZ a stronger, better country. So I'd just like to point out, in the midst of the shadowy fears being created (including some fairly ill-thought comments by some NZ ministers) that despite the mistakes there's a resounding success story to been see of an small group of strange Kiwi's feeling that they too can participate in our democracy. To the Bethren: "Welcome to representational democracy, what took so long?"

(Disclosure: As I noted in the article I do not agree with the way the Exclusive Brethren choose to live or their religious or political views. I formerly attended an open Brethren church (and have many friends from there) - historically both groups come from the original NZ Brethren church although they are not in any way linked now.)

Update 29Jan08: Corrected mis-spelling of Brethren (thanks mother).

NZ legislation viewable online

2008-01-25T12:58:00.000+13:00

I recently found out that the NZ government has made all NZ legislation viewable in full online. It's strange that it has taken so long - but this is an excellent move. I recall not many years ago, in a dispute with the police, being surprised to learn that the only way I could view legislation was through a proprietary interface at the university library.

If all people are expected to abide by the law, all people ought to have easy access to read the law. I'm very pleased to see that is now that case in NZ.

Hokey pokey

2008-01-21T01:04:00.000+13:00

Ingredients:
golden syrup
white sugar
a small to medium-size saucepan
baking soda (sodium bicarbonate)
a tablespoon and a teaspoon
a baking tin

Measure two tablespoons of white sugar in a saucepan and add two
tablespoons of golden syrup. Turn the element on about halfway and stir and heat the mixture until it starts to boil. Continue stirring and boiling the mixture for 5 minutes, or until it starts to froth up (whatever to comes first). Then remove it from the heat and add a teaspoon of baking soda. Stir this in quickly till it froths up and then quickly pour or spoon it into your tin. Leave to cool (about 15 minutes) and then enjoy!

(Stolen from my little brother's chemistry schoolbook)

Bunya Mountain Hiking

2007-12-15T22:16:00.000+13:00

It was a beautiful place and my first opportunity to get out of Brisbane for awhile. Thanks to all who came.

Photo credits: OJJH & SRB

The theft of free speech

2007-12-07T12:36:00.001+13:00

A great editorial by Jim Hopkins in the Herald today.

Because what our politicians are doing this week is not preventing people from buying an election. They're actually determining who can buy it. And they've very sensibly decided it should be them. While deftly wrapping a gag of red tape around everyone else's tongue, their bill specifically exempts parliamentarians from its provisions.

And fair enough too! Democracy is far too precious to squander on the common herd.

The Electoral Finance Bill comes up for its 3rd reading next week, sadly, it still looks set to pass (come on Greens, show some backbone!).

Call a spade a spade

2007-12-04T19:25:00.000+13:00

A good article in the Washington Post about the seeming inability of the West to agree that arresting a teacher for allowing her kids to name a teddy bear Mohammed is not a "disproportionate punishment," there was no crime committed!