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January 30, 2007
the quick brown fox
Posted by Per at 2:38 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
January 29, 2007
NPL NSW final
Just received a text-message from the National Poker League that i've qualified for the New South Wales Final again.
Normally I would have already known this, but they never updated the last weeks score and I didnt do well on that one, so had to wait till they found the time and effort to share this information!! again slack asses at NPL!
The final is again a two day event, and first day is this Saturday at Massey Park Golf Club ironically, as I had to cancel my golf day for this, and the next one when I make it through to the next day.
Hopefully I can do better this time, I mean im happy to qualify for the third consecutive season in a row, being in the top 5 of our venue but the cards are not sticking with me lately and I've had it a bit with NPL.
So another shot to win the $15.000 dollar first price, or the opportunity to go to a $1.000.000 event, first have to beat probably 800 players.
Tonight we trade our NPL night in to see what Oz Poker Tour has to offer at their Venue in Dundas.
**** UPDATE ****
Just got message from my poker buddy Nick, that the list of qualifiers is online, and watta you know I came 3rd overall just behind Nick who came 2nd !
NPL2006 season 4final list
Posted by Per at 3:06 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
January 26, 2007
Australia Day
Its Australia day today!
A public holiday for Australians... lots of festivities etc! I will start this day with a game of golf with the boys :), that will probably end with a couple of beers, and so on.. cheers!Want to know what it is: Australia Day
Posted by Per at 6:38 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
January 25, 2007
Landmines
Posted by Per at 3:59 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
JRuler
Before I talked about DevToolbar, well that can be a bit much for the average user.
If you quickly want to measure something on your screen in whateva format, you can use this little nifty tool called JRuler.
Hang a shortcut in your Quick Launch bar and voila always ready.
JRuler
Download file (142KB)
I tell you what, it has more features and clever useful ways to use then you think.
Tnx to Brian again!
Posted by Per at 2:22 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 22, 2007
Bush fire
Its high summer in Australia, and today it was around 39 - 41 degrees, a very hot day.
These days trigger bush fires, and normally you see it on the news and sometimes you can see the glow in the far distance, or you have the smoke and smell from far.
|- taken from our backyard
Today we have a bush fire just opposite of our valley, and thats a little bit to close for me if I may say so.
|- fire chopper flying over backyard
The last daylight hours of today was a noisy one with fire trucks coming past and choppers flying over. Dunne if the famous Elvis was involved but our local park was host for all choppers and trucks, and when I passed I could see the big fire chopper that was flying over our house during daylight parked.
|- elvis?? - nearby park - FYI on the far left is a full size truck, just to show how big that chopper is
So far there was no need to worry, according to the news.. and I dont see to many people panic, so thats ok.. i think.
Ally went with Justin (Nephew) out to have a little look closer today, and took this picture:
|- taken as close as Ally could come to the fire
Still from the backyard you can see the glow on the other side, and they hope its under control by the morning as then they expect the wind to change.
|- taken from our backyard
Any way again, the way its in the news and the way people around are taking it, it should be ok! :)
****UDATE**** (23-01-07)
They had to close the freeway one more time due to too much smoke and too close to the fire, and after that they got it complete under control.
It has been a constant chopper flying over and you can smell the burning almost everywhere.
The wind was the biggest problem, but the good thing was they expected rain on Wednesday and like al weather predictions go wrong, it came luckily early.
So finally it’s cooling down and some extra aid for all the fire fighters.
Amazingly how everything took place so calmly.. very good stuff!
A cheer for the fire fighters! HOOYAH !!
Posted by Per at 12:44 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
January 19, 2007
Dare Devil Kids
Picture these:
Posted by Per at 5:05 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
LFS STCC License
First of all, Live For Speed published just before Xmas a very nice update patch V.
This patch for me made my controller calibrate much better, and being on a higher ping on this side of the globe a better chance of joining some European races as the lag calculation done smoother.
Many details got touched up, and also we have more functions, but the thing that stands out is the sound improvement! Very nice!
See here the list of changes: Live for Speed - Patch V
STCC
Secondly STCC (Sim Touring Car Cup), came up with three servers that host LICENSED driving.... huh?
Yea, they have developed a license structure, besides the already demo and paid license in LFS and the S1 and S2 license difference in LFS.
They have put online one Copper - Bronze license server, and one Silver and Gold server, and the event server (next post more about this) they have the Platinum server in his free time.
Not only divides this the wreckers from the racers, but also puts the racers in their leagues. They have chosen some of the normal cars for the racing progress, and you start with the easy FWD (front wheel drive) little cars to do bronze and copper and for silver and gold you get to choose a slightly bigger versions and some turbo powered RWD and FWD cars and also a 4WD (RALLY) from the LFS assorti.
Personally I really start to appreciate their car picks, as the cars mostly not even go over 200 kph, and in these cars you get more time to get your corners right and you have more time to react properly when in trouble.
Tire choice and setup becomes also allot more interesting as the pack stays closer together, and you start realizing the difference during the race more quicker. Now for me all of a sudden I start altering the camber (wheel angle) settings more then before, to suit my driving style.
The license structure is strict, and you progress slightly when finishing but the better drivers obviously progress quicker when finishing top 3 and set fast times, like fastest laps and lap records, but also the STCC server record and of course the World Records.
I progressed through the Bronze and Copper license and the cars that belong to them, and also finished my Silver license so now I am a:
I said goodbye to all the rookies and n00bs and wreckers that really piss you off with their hammer the car into the corner sideways attitude, and childish behaviors.
Now life is good.. the races are always as good as the view you had before, and now im in the gold league trying to push for platinum I realize I have to step up a notch again to gain ground, which is good tho.
The cars are new to me in this league to, and they are based on the midrange road cars, I bit more heavy to drive then the little cars before and a bit more uncontrolled in the corners, you really have to find the smooth path driving without overheating your tires to much.
With this way of progressing the races online are more and more often more intense, and the servers have a strict policy about foul play and for instance when you spin off the track you are only aloud to enter when the track is clear.
Live For Speed is:
If you have no clue what im talking about, you wouldn’t be the first.. lol
Live For Speed is IMO the best ONLINE RACING SIMULATOR out there. Its free to try the demo version (see website), and you can drive the cars im talking about for copper and bronze on one track only.
Beware when you try the demo, your in a pool with n000bs and you have to be lucky to get the racing experience you will get more often when you have the normal license for LFS.
The cars are based on cars out there, but LFS never bought the license so they made there own changes to them for the best if I may say so. They have created a pile of cars to choose from and it goes from the touringcars to a wide variety of open wheelers with the latest addition a licensed F1 car based on the BMW from Sauber (F1.06), and very fast GTR's. Also they have a list of very funny little cars.
There are many tracks with all their own versions also..
The biggest feature is the settings you can alter for your car, and it goes way beyond the tire brand and pressure!
LFS screenshots
Have a go.. and watch out for me.. f34Rm3 :)
WARNING: LFS is very difficult to use with keyboard only, if you have a look at the game, bare in mind the noobs and the driving if you are on the keyboard.
The best experience is with a steering wheel, but I am driving with a gamepad (Logitech Dual Action) with Z-index sticks (like the playstation controller and xbox controller). You need a device that gives you controlled power and braking, instead of plain ON or OFF.. :)
Posted by Per at 1:59 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 18, 2007
Poker Table
I've got my poker table finally !! YAY !!
The National Poker League is having a rough time at the moment, but I finally got my last seasons winner prize delivered at home.
Its a very nice and solid poker table, not cheap material and it got its own legs. To bad it has big written PartyPoker.net's ad on it as I never play there, but the rest is very nice.
We just played the last day of this season, and the slack*sses havent updated the site yet, to see if I made this seasons top 5.
I'm currently in 4th position overall again, but didnt put any score in on last day, so still having my fingers crossed if I didnt got passed on the last day.
Normally they are very quick updating the results, but its the last one of this season so they have to screw this up too.
NPL is making a lot of mistakes, and are in a battle with one of their former employer, as he started his own tour (OzPokerTour).
I wont trouble you with all the things NPL was doing wrong before, but now they are in a battle over venues, they finally opened up the marketing channel, and trying to keep their players. This is what they were lacking before (communication).
Maybe one day I will go into detail what goes wrong, but for me getting the table I had to write an angry e-mail to them, to finally stand up and delivering my hard earned prize of the season behind.
Mind you I pointed out some other issues to, but only got response on the table delivery what they have picked up on the spot and delivered within the agreed time and date! WD (well done).
I liked playing for NPL at the venue Carlingford, but things changed and it aint as fun anymore. Ive agreed with some other players that we are going to use next season to try other leagues around like Oz Poker Tours and the Australian Poker Tour etc..
Anyway, hopefully I made it again for the 3rd time in a row to reach the New South Wales final of this league, as Im due for a good game to take another shot at the 15.000$ prize, or the paid seat in a 1.000.000$ tournament. But we have to wait untill they update.. grrrrr
Ow, they put an extra chipset with this table, thats a very nice gesture actually!
Now were am I going to store this prize :)
Posted by Per at 6:25 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Game Quiz
Would you like to know if you are classified as a true gamer, or just want to see what your game knowledge level is, well try this little game quiz.
In 50 quick questions you have your answer, it was good to have a run down to memory lane like that, with questions about C&C Red Alert, Wolvenstein and Counterstrike..etc I must say some others I had no clue about many guessed accidentally right!
My idea is that this quiz is more about "are you an old gamer" then are you "a gamer"
Had a score of 84% so that was pretty ok :)
Have a go, and tell me if this is about being an old gamer or just a gamer in general :)
Ps didnt used any resources like google and such during the quiz tho.. made it more fun.
Posted by Per at 2:12 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 17, 2007
Bloody Vodafone
I was using my internet access to download golf courses to my phone, so I would have the score card of the courses I played also on my phone.
After a round of golf you normally put your card in for the score so you cant really look back what u have done.
I was using Wireless18 to keep my data and score .. anyways.. getting sidetracked again, will tell about that another day.
So I wasnt a heavy data user any way, but on the pre-paid they had some kind of unlimited usage with a fair use policy attached, so that was great.
I also had SMS-text to every where around the globe, because I was using the 49 dollar Maxi Cap.
The 49 dollar Maxi Cap made pay EVERY MONTH 49 dollars, what was a bit annoying but gave 250$ of talk text and what eva.. It wasnt like you put 49 bucks on and you can sit on it as long as you want.. NO!, even when you never used it completely the 250 bucks OR even the 49 bucks you still had to put in new 49 bucks in order to continue using the phone.
I kept track if I went over just the last few months and I did in those months, so it wasnt stealing yet from me.
As I said they announced that they would kill the internet usage in December 2006 by text message, but they never said to me on text or mail or whateva.. WATCH OUT your overseas TEXT messages will be banned TOO, if they did they prolly hide it with a stupid commercial txt message at the top saying new promotions with your MaxiCap and then at the bottom no overseas texting, then I could have deleted it tho.. i'll keep that one open!
Obviously on NYE i tried to text my friends and relatives overseas to warn that 2007 had arrived in Sydney and it was coming their way FAST! :)
First tries I thought ok, the service could not be delivered due to the heavy usage of all texters.. but now I know it was because all PrePaid users got booted from that privilege.. grrr,..
First of all I am annoyed by this, as bloody Vodafone was changing their plans, and Im pretty sure that thousands of people like me couldn’t to the same I wanted.
That also means that Vodafone was missing out on mega pesos due to this fantastic move..
I went to the Vodafone store the other day to do some questioning, and the guy said well it isnt official yet but they are setting up PrePaid add-ons for Internet usage and for overseas texting! WHUT? that’s not how you do it, when u throw away old shoes please do it when you got proper new ones!!!!!
So here is my reason for not texting all of you, but lucky I had my site and e-mail already set and done.
Im now on for a plan, as the 49 bucks I used to spend on PrePaid with all services can easily give me a full plan with all shebang and a new phone.
Who wants a new phone, as I prolly going to stick with my w800i as with the 2 GB memory-stick and FM transmitter Im still a very happy camPER!
Posted by Per at 2:52 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 15, 2007
Picture this!?
Dunno where I found this one on the net, but like it..
I'll have to guess its at some hotdog festival?!
Posted by Per at 3:34 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Ollies 1st
Cassa (Ally's sister), asked if I could help out creating Oliver's 1st birthday invite. The picture was taken by a professional photographer, and ive stuck the 1 on his shirt, made his eyes look a bit more blue and stuck the party hat on his head. After that I created the balloons from scratch, the mirror effect on the ground and worked on the layout and text.
The design got printed out on glossy paper, and stuck to a blue cardboard, with a nice ribbon through the top, done by the ladies.. very nice end result.
Had to stick this in my portfolio :)
Posted by Per at 3:15 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
ie7 is here!
I found out that most of my web productions I was working on looked good in IE7 and looked good in FireFox, but didnt look good in IE6.
So i had to uninstall IE7 again, and work from IE6 point of view untill the day comes that we all have IE7!
Got an automated update yesterday, and didnt really look at it... this morning I rebooted, and tadaa my IE7 was back!
Dont know if it was a forced IE6 to IE7 switch or that the updates triggered to IE7 to come alive again. Any way Ive read on the IE blog that there are more IE7 users now then Firefox users, so I will stick with it now.
At the same time IE7 came with the built in phishing net! Thats a good thing, I mean you just want to get that extra message saying your on the wrong site if you have now idea what you are doing.
I liked IE7 before I uninstalled it, and I love the RSS reader.. now also having the search box integrated plus some free add-ons that makes my Google toolbar absolete actually, sorry Google the big bear wins again!, very slow though but nice and powerful :)
Get your IE7 copy here, so I can start developing sites again without having to look back :)
If ur a Firefox user, stick to ur guns.. RESPECT!
Posted by Per at 1:06 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 11, 2007
May Live
In my previous post about May I explained how I looked Jacco and Tjalling up through google and found out they left the cover scene, and were doing there own thing now with a band called May.
I posted a small note on their guestbook, with greetings from Australia :), straight after that I got a message from Alex (bass guitar) on my weblog whom ive never had met but obviously didnt skip the opportunity to write something nice back (cheers m8), and a message from Tjalling my google hit haha, later I received an email from Jacco with a great update about this all!
That was all overwhelming on its own, but they were about to have a live gig on the Radio @ Schagen FM on the show Eldorado (monday evenings), and the host of the show his name is Peter had read the post from me on the Mayband.com guestbook... He mentioned in the radio show later about the fan from Australia.. hihihi.
After the show I got an email from Peter (Eldorado), not only saying about the event but also promising that I would get a copy of the show... w00000t! tadaa.. what do you think about that, fantastic hey!
Now here is a guy that I've never met, reads about my post on the website of Mayband.com and immediately starts helping out a far away person (me) so I can listen to my buddies on the radioshow... 3x wow and a w0000t + a h00yah!
Peter didnt had the resource available to host the files or send them to me over the net on the spot, and mailed me back saying "ive got the files ready but what should I do to get them to you".
Just before that I was on the website of SchagenFM the radio station Peter has his show at, and noticed it was hosted and made by Windkracht Internet.
Thats great, because one of the founders of Windkracht internet his name is Koen, ive been involved with in The Netherlands work wise but more so doing LANparties and lots of gaming.
Windkracht along with the other founder Maikel at that time was one of the major sponsors of the LANtasy parties i used to organize with Frank (ICTsense), and the website for LANtasy was created and sponsored by Windkracht.nl plus Koen was always available to attend the parties.. anyways moving on.. :)
So I said to Peter, drop the CD of at Windkracht cuz thats near your place and give it to Koen or Michael and it all be fine.
That week our firestarter Peter dropped the files of at Windkracht.nl head office, and not long after that I got an e-mail from Koen saying "Hey Per how are you doing... and here you can grab your files!!." wow again.. what a beautiful world hey ! :)
So this was all the amazing lead up that gave me the opportunity to listen to May being in Australia... to me this is already a fantastic cooperation of all parties involved, and started by Peter whom out of nowhere stood up and helped this Cloggie in Ozzie.. cheers mate!
I've downloaded the files and listen to them... they are obviously Live and very unplugged versions of May's repertoire so far, but boy o boy o boy are the guys nailing it... I had a little idea what Jacco's flavor was if he gets to do his own thing, but now with the group its soooo complete, I love it!
For a band that’s together now since May (tadaa.. now you know) 2006, very good stuff.
The thing that really stands out to me is their own sound to it, and that’s already very very special these days, so guys well done!
I could be wrong here but Jacco's voice sounds more crisp on these recordings, and he hits very nice notes.. so dunno if you did some training on this Jacco but pfieuw.. well done mate!
The music in complete form I still have to listen too as these recordings are with very limited backing, which make them unique in their own way, and cant wait to hear them in full force!
I dont have a straight favor so far, ive got at least 3 songs that I randomly pick to start with any time I want to listen, and end up listening to all 6 any way.
As im typing this, the band is recording their first ever EP, as they are winning prize after prize in da Lowlands, and pushed some gigs aside to make some time to put this superb material in some solid quality recordings.
So i am as you are not to far away of hearing them in complete sound, if you never seen them live.
According to the May-linglist, they should be finished by the end of this January and they have some different songs on the EP also then the ones Ive got here for you.
Now most of you prolly haven’t read a thing above and are already downloading, but thanks to Peter from Radio Eldorado on Schagen FM and the swift transport through Koen from Windkracht with approval from Jacco to share and Frank from ICTsense for hosting, here are the six songs send to me in this amazing way.
In no particular order:
May - Come to the Rhym - Live@Eldorado
May - Bone Mother - Live@Eldorado
May - Open your eyes - Live@Eldorado
May - Woven hand - Live@Eldorado
May - Sollitude - Live@Eldorado
May - All the way - Live@Eldorado
Hope you enjoyed the music pieces, and is seeing the potential this band has, and hope every1 is as fired up as I am and willing to support the soon to be released first EP of May so many more will follow, I will let you know!!
Thanks everyone, and feel free to share your opinion!
Posted by Per at 1:02 AM | Comments (5) | TrackBack
January 7, 2007
Picture this!?
Posted by Per at 11:16 AM | Comments (6) | TrackBack
January 6, 2007
Good Start
Good start of 2007, not a great one but a good one... im talking about poker and golf today.
golf
First of all my golf is getting better, and took out first prize for the 3rd time in a row now. Handicap is down to 22, and i just have to get it to 18 within the next two months (my own set goal). Scored solid points on my second go at Long Reef (iseek golf link) and the last time Mona Vale (iseek golf link), and today played the massive goat track at Northbridge (iseek golf link), and won again. Putting is getting heaps better (had 5 one puts this round, rest two puts and one 3 put), and trying to play a bit more controlled now instead of reaching big distances, even then im long enough.. so why should I push. Challenge now is the stuff ups... too many wasted shots on the card. Have to stay focused.. I had two wipes this day and 3 wipes the other week (wipe is no Stableford score a hole, Par = 3 points mostly for me at this stage, Bogey is 2 points and double Bogey is 1 points on most of the holes)Still playing with default small driver and old putter, and very happy with it.
Wayne let me try a great Titleist driver the other day, with a firm graphite shaft, that belonged to one of the trainee - pro's at Turramurra GC, and that was a better performance than my big driver, but so far im better of staying with little default one, just to print in some proper muscle memory for my swing. But when the time is there, I would love to handle one of those babies! Hooyah
Next week we play at Muirfield Golf Course, Ive never been there so thats going to be a big test to keep my progress up.
poker
As stated in previous poker message, i was getting second a bit to much lately and even Nick, he starts to call it the "Per disease", coming second.. grr.
Well last week on Thursday we had a fantastic poker night playing for the Australian Poker League instead of the National Poker league we usually play for. We didnt do good in the main event, but after the main event they start little "sit and go's", and Nick came second :) in his one, and I came first in my one.. hahaha.
Finally cards start to connect when i have to, I mean many many times in the past, i went in the battle knowing I was ahead, and always lost.
Now I even got very lucky on the last two cards when I apparently was not ahead going in, and in heads up mode I get the upper hand with my play style.
This was at a new venue in Castle Hill where Chris, Nick and I caught up for a little chat, dinner and a bit of poker.
Funny part was that Nick was talking about a little system he played if he played roulette, and I said I used to play a little system too.. both not fancy very simple ones, so after poker we tried to combine the two simple systems, and we invested 10 bucks each. Surprisingly when my system failed his system backed up, and visa versa.. but the double whammy came when we both hit. After 20 minutes of play we reached the hundred bucks and split it. It was more good fun then it was real gambling actually, if you are getting scared reading this... dont worry Im not really interested in those games.
Any way it was a great night out catching up with the guys, and playing one of our hobbies and making some money aside.
Im not playing online that much lately, I tend to just have one in a couple of days or even a week.. but I played the other day a poker tournament and won that also, so looking forward to the next chapter of this season it looks promising.
world premiere
As im typing this im also preparing a "world premiere" if im quick enough.., im very excited about this.... and it has to do with the band May I was telling about earlier on my blog, the story attached to it is even as great as the premiere, so hopefully I finish my piece on that one quickly... so pls stay tuned, this is going to be good!!.Posted by Per at 10:40 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 3, 2007
Xmas Killcare
I stumbled upon simpleviewer the other day, through some browsing and im really charmed by the product.. its as simple as it looks to use install and make. Ow and for non business purposes its FREE.. yay!
so.., lucky you as Xmas gave us a new bunch or pics, so here are the editors choices :)
Watch how easy the page navigation goes to the 2 other pages with photos.. or just click on the main photo and move mouse to sides for the "next" and "previous" arrows!
Bet the best way is click on first "thumbnail" (little picture), and use the cursor arrows on your keyboard! wow..
Anyway we had a great time, drunk a couple of quiet ones, and the boys went for the annual "boxing day" golf @ the everglades golf club (Scott's a member).
Posted by Per at 10:09 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
January 1, 2007
Happy 2007
happy 2007 everyone !!
Its save to say 2007 is here and for you people on the otherside of the globe, its a fact... and comming your way very soon!
Just got back from the city, and again watched the fireworks near the operahouse and the harbour-bridge here in Sydney. Before that we watched the fireworks at 9 oclock in darling harbour. Ally and I took 12 y/o Lauren (Scotts (brother Ally) daugter) to this must see with own eyes shift in years. It was a bit to crowded this year but nonetheless it still is a great experience.
I got interviewed by an ABC lady, so maybe i'll have my 15 seconds of fame in Australia soon.. :)
Wish you all the very best in the new year, and I've tried many many times to get my text messages through, but vodaphone doesnt have me on his/her priority list as must handle first costumers.. so sorry, hope you get my wishes through here.
Berend, thanks for your quick response in the other post, ur the man.. ! same to you and Ellen and please send our wishes to your fam and to the crew (Siempie, Jarno, Kat, Et and Etc.. )
Posted by Per at 3:52 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack