Paul’s esoteric meanderings

Here I am, 31 years old, and I only just got around to really understanding the optimum way to manage my credit card. (At least I hope I understand it now).

Now for those of you that don’t like reading, I’ll give you the short version. Very simply - you MUST pay off the “Closing Balance” as close to, but before the “Due Date” ON THAT STATEMENT - and you pay no interest. Make no other payments. Do NOT pay the “Outstanding Balance”. That’s it, nothing else you need to know. Do that religiously, and you can’t do any better.

Sheesh - at the exchange rate - no wonder public transport is expensive! Pounds Sterling - what next - Euro’s?

This is of course on top of what would have to the  slowest proximity readers on the planet, displays that are impossible to read, an arcane array of “beep” codes, and an “Auto Top Up” function - that doesn’t.

Great system guys, matches your train network perfectly.

The Lihir Gold Mine is a large open pit mine in the middle what remains of the one of the volcano calderas that make up Niolam (Lihir) island. Lihir is located in a highly active seismic and geothermal area. Half of the caldera is missing, disappeared into the ocean several thousand years ago, brining the seashore right up to the edge of mining operations. If you add in 4000mm of rain each year and an unstable soil you get a less than ideal situation for landslides.

I have to sit through far too many piss-poor Powerpoint slide decks that just send the audience to sleep. Here are some examples of how to use Powerpoint properly.

Brilliant Video Session
http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/187

Great tips from a  great presenter
http://blogs.technet.com/jesper_johansson/archive/2005/08/24/Death-by-PowerPoint.aspx

Advice from a specialist
http://www.presentationzen.com/presentationzen/2005/09/whats_good_powe.html

http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/187

I recently bought a new secondhand small Euro diesel car, and had numerous debates with several people re. its safety for my kids vs my large 4WD Toyota Landcruiser.

My approach was to get something 5 star rated, with curtain airbags. Head injuries from side impacts with 4wd’s being a known problem with small cars.

Here are some vids I found that were very enlightening.

This is some of the best discussion of motorcycle helmets and testing I have seen anywhere. It certainly made me rethink a lot of my assumptions.

Basically, do you want a tough helmet, or a soft and squishy one. I’m thinking soft and squishy is probably best.

Here is the testing and analysis http://motorcyclistonline.com/gearbox/hatz/

And here is a more general discussion relating to same, and links to heaps and heaps of resources. http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycle-helmets/motorcycle-helmet-faq.htm

This guy is excellent. Clear communication with an careers worth of building experience.

Builder Bill lives in Darwin NT, and has some wonderful insights into what gives your average removator problems.

http://www.builderbill-diy-help.com/

He’s dead. I’m fairly sure Howard died several years ago and it is his corpse they keep wheeling out just like Chairman Mao on display in Beijing.

I have huge respect for the man and what he has done. I don’t agree with all his policies, but I do respect that he makes a decision and sticks to his guns. There is nothing worse than civil servants that won’t make a decision. Procrastination never got anyone in government fired.

A tragic flood this morning destroyed the personal library of President Bush. The flood began in the Presidential bathroom where the books were kept. Both books have been lost. A Presidential spokesman said the President was devastated, since he was almost finished coloring the second one.
The White House tried to call FEMA, but there was no answer.

One star rating - I reckon my Turbo Exa would have been safer in a crash, and it had the structural rating of a coke can. This video is brilliant, I haven’t seen a car this trashed at the wreckers in years.  New Chinese Car Crash Test Disaster

Being a frequent flyer I found both of these highly entertaining:

http://msu.everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1483960

http://msu.everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1486339