tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73056702011-04-22T04:53:39.191+02:00wernernoreply@blogger.comBlogger2301100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-92079082231157666802006-12-15T12:54:00.000+02:002006-12-15T12:57:12.401+02:00

This blog has moved tohttp://www.zzzbot.com/thecagesthe sleeping robot.goodnite sweet blogspot.

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-16135414625630603762006-12-07T15:21:00.000+02:002006-12-15T12:54:16.751+02:00

After an extended search I finally found a .com domain name that I both wanted and wouldn't have to pay an overinflated price for from some dodgy `search service`.http://www.zzzbot.comthe sleeping robot.I've always been sure that nothing less than a .com would do.I'm not a .org kind of person(far too warm and fuzzy) and I still think that using .net for general purpose sites is misuse. And let's

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1181875983163328142006-12-07T15:19:00.000+02:002006-12-07T15:21:18.815+02:00

Wanted BewareWanted Reward

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-70215514336641912462006-12-04T17:27:00.001+02:002006-12-05T08:15:54.806+02:00

One of the things that struck me about central London was the lack of tagging and graffiti - though I have to qualify this by saying that I never went beyond Zone 2 and suspect that less über-whatever neighbourhoods probably have plenty.Nevertheless I've come to expect some level of illegal tagging to be present in all urban areas. The only such evidence I found was some half hearted keying on

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-42902834608656644162006-12-01T11:29:00.000+02:002006-12-01T11:49:24.456+02:00

Back from London after several traumatic return flights - distance kills.This was my first time to London(!) and bizarrely I am glad to finally have gone.London seems to be the default destination for South African youth-types and every dumb nut who has been on a gap year has been.So invariably the response that you get from anyone when you say that you've not been is: 'Really? So have you been

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-27968838937534092892006-11-27T10:56:00.000+02:002006-11-27T11:00:34.729+02:00

Bem vendo em Londres!Estamos aqcui na cidade dos Brits para relaxo.The weather is frickin cold and wet etc. etc.etc. etc.music: AC/DC(obviously), Roots Manuva, Placebo - how very Londonese!

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-68480826947739334902006-11-23T13:42:00.000+02:002006-11-23T13:43:50.984+02:00

Its been a while since I posted music compilations.I've put together a few for various reasons but none of them have really rocked.Here's Opening Doors. Opening Doors 1. Prince Raspberry Beret (In through the Out door) 2. Crowded House Pineapple Head 3. Jenny Lewis with Handle With Care The Watson Twins 4. Supergrass Late in the Day 5. Ryan Adams This House is not For Sale

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-87269024373100952622006-11-22T10:24:00.000+02:002006-11-22T10:41:36.552+02:00

I, like everyone else, now get a lot of my news from Digg.It's a good news service, blah blah blah blah.They now also have a Labs project which is not nearly as fancy as Google's or Yahoo's but still has two cool toys.Digg Swarm and Stack are two flash-based apps that visualise Digg activity in near real time.Digg Swarm draws a circle for stories as they're dugg. Diggers swarm around stories,

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-26322398573212991792006-11-21T11:26:00.000+02:002006-11-21T13:31:13.878+02:00

Francis Bacon is my mother's favourite artist. I was always quite disturbed by this.I still find his best known work (Study after Velazquez's Portrait of Pope Innocent X) immensely disturbing.Study after Velazquez's Portrait of Pope Innocent X - 1953There's something terrible and brutal about the composition; the cage, the (electric?) chair, the ghostly face. And let's not even mention the hollow

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-67146414585294942132006-11-16T07:45:00.000+02:002006-11-17T08:33:07.819+02:00

John Jodka is a US Marine who was sentenced yesterday to 18 months in prison for his part in the shooting death (and subsequent cover-up) of an Iraqi civilian.The details are not that important - war - atrocity - duty - superiors - whatever - fuck.He joined the US Marines in May 2005, was in Iraq by February 2006 and in detention from 12 May 2006 for this murder.His dad set up a site to raise

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1163582201893733122006-11-15T10:55:00.000+02:002006-11-16T20:21:20.592+02:00

This is ludicrous.HP have introduced a new feature to their latest range of digital cameras - slimming.What it does is to trim the object at the center of the image (i.e. a loved one) to make it appear more slender. WTF?!?!?!So while the reality of your holiday might have been of a pudgy, blotchy tourist in sandals scratching their bum while wondering whether to have another cocktail in a coconut

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1163398193308288562006-11-13T07:59:00.000+02:002006-11-16T20:21:20.422+02:00

I ran my first half marathon of the season on Saturday morning - the 10th Winelands Half Marathon in Stellenbosch starting at 05:45.The early start is extreme (waking up at 04:30 sucks) but makes sense as it means that the race is done by 07:30 before the heat and Saturday morning traffic.The course ran from Stellenbosch along the R44 to Somerset West and then in among the farms of Blaauwklippen

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1163170053208196412006-11-10T16:38:00.001+02:002006-11-16T20:21:20.157+02:00

Another week.George Bush got his ass handed to him.Donald Rumsfeld got the can.Reporter: "If you had any do-overs to do in this race..."GW: "You don't get to do them."Reporter: "Or if Mr Rove had any do-overs to do in this race..."GW: "You don't get do-overs."GW: "As far as do-overs ...." he trailed off, looked down, paused, and gestured to his advisers."Talk to them."The can"We've been trying to

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1162830923895029832006-11-06T18:29:00.000+02:002006-11-16T20:21:19.691+02:00

I had my first real race of the running season on Saturday, taking part in a corporate relay and doing a 14km leg.Next weekend will be my first half marathon of the season - the Winelands Marathon(and half) in Stellenbosch.Go Speed Racer! Go!Yesterday was also New York City Marathon day.Out of 90,000 applicants a record 38,368 runners started this year’s marathon on Staten Island, busted a gut

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1162555647580776622006-11-03T14:05:00.000+02:002007-06-26T19:52:56.952+02:00

...................And when you loose control,you'll reap the harvest you have sownAnd as the fear grows,the bad blood slows and turns to stoneAnd it's too late to loose the weight you used to need to throw aroundSo have a good drown, as you go down, all aloneDragged down by the stone.DogsPhotos: http://www.texansforpeace.org

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1162394795085736122006-11-01T17:24:00.000+02:002006-11-16T20:21:19.219+02:00

PW Botha died yesterday.Reactions to his death are mixed; the government is politely detached[1], others emphasise the good in his bungling attempts to reform South Africa. Very few reports are openly agressive.This is the natural reaction to the death of a man who the world has passed by.He lived the last seventeen years of his life in a country that day-by-day proved how viciously misguided his

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1161852981557855612006-10-26T10:41:00.000+02:002006-11-16T20:21:18.997+02:00

Here's a fascinating article on Alzheimer's disease from the NY Times.When he learned in 1995 that he had Alzheimer’s disease, William Utermohlen, an American artist in London, responded in characteristic fashion.“From that moment on, he began to try to understand it by painting himself,” said his wife, Patricia Utermohlen, a professor of art history.The article gives a view on Mr. Utermohlen’s

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1161619598352790542006-10-23T17:56:00.000+02:002006-11-16T20:21:18.786+02:00

I first picked up on the notion of Advanced Capitalism through Haruki Murakami's Dance Dance Dance.Murakami's take on the concept is concerned with the pervasiveness of the capitalist imperative[1] and the brutal system used to drive it, namely waste.He emphasises the fact that most western-style economies rely heavily on wastage and redundancy to drive growth.It's the old story that no car maker

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1161352699620235282006-10-20T15:46:00.000+02:002006-11-16T20:21:18.600+02:00

Tomorrow is the day of Diwali - the Indian festival of lights.Jaipur lit upWe have a delegation from India working in our offices at the moment(as part of a skills transfer program) and today's Friday morning tea was hosted by them with a Diwali theme.Traditional dress abounded.One of the guys(he seems to be generally accepted to be the most senior of the crew) spoke briefly about the history of

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1161184397514650212006-10-18T16:46:00.000+02:002006-11-16T20:21:18.410+02:00

I'm becoming more convinced of the importance of active protest[1].It's fine to talk about how screwed up the world is, that and why each individual should recognise this and how it affects my life.But if none of this translates into activism it's a bit glass-house/stone.While I have never protested violently I don't disapprove of it[2]. Nor am I much of a socialist[3].But I am sometimes

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1160997234299909722006-10-16T13:02:00.000+02:002006-11-16T20:21:18.249+02:00

Now is a time of endings.Spring(and with it summer's early heat) has arrived in Cape Town, and it is the start of the growing season.But relationships and lives are ending. The world is fucked beyond repair. And(vainly) I am approaching the end of my twenties.Three of my grandparents are still alive and are all in their eighties. My father's father is in good health but his twin sister recently

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1160665088919126082006-10-12T16:37:00.000+02:002006-11-16T20:21:18.050+02:00

Another lo-fi video gem to fry your brains with!I first heard of OK Go after the viral phenomenon of their previous video hit A Million Ways. The video features the band performing a 3 1/2 minute sexycrazy dance routine[3] in the singer's backyard.It was recorded in a single continuous take[1] with a borrowed video camera on a tripod. Apparently the total production cost was around $10 with $4.95

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1160148537221291712006-10-06T17:28:00.000+02:002006-11-16T20:21:17.817+02:00

As reported previously I'm working on an entry for the Bulwer Lytton Fiction Contest.Here is the latest fruit of my labour - the opening sentence to a soon-to-be monster novel: Memoirs of a Slut.She never put out on the first date of the day, but it was clear to him that this might change as he watched her deploy those fuck-me-harder eyes he'd heard so much about.

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1160034338540674222006-10-05T09:35:00.000+02:002006-11-16T20:21:17.625+02:00

This is fantastic! I just saw the video for Tenacious D's song Tribute(to the greatest and best song in the world)[1].It's Jack Black and some dude who he's been friends with since 1985 who plays an acoustic guitar.It starts out nice and simple but then builds into the kind of post-post-postmodern-postness that Muse wish they could do.Liam Lynch[2] meets Lordi meets the Andy Milonakis

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1159877132506676832006-10-03T13:38:00.000+02:002006-11-16T20:21:17.403+02:00

I've been ripped off(recently again) about my kak taste in magazines. I totally don't agree.Yes, Anita and I do buy heat every now and again and will buy Vanity Fair whenever it's not ridiculously overpriced(as recently in Washington).But even higher on my wishlist of magazine subscriptions is The New Yorker - snooty, I know, but the cartoons are unrivaled.But I will freely admit to buying crap

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1159521100251166472006-09-29T10:40:00.000+02:002006-11-16T20:15:09.194+02:00

One of the major stresses at Catalyst was the all-singing, all-dancing Diebold ATM which was meant to wow S1 customers with it's business-card depositing, channel integrating, coolness.It was meant to be connected to our Postilion system to be used by the conference attendees to draw S1 Bucks (fake money). Each attendee was issued with a debit card and could draw x Bucks from their accounts.The

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1158845669766589372006-09-21T15:26:00.000+02:002006-11-16T20:15:09.114+02:00

And so my trip ended in Washington(I'm back home now).In many ways it's very apt that this be the case since Washington is so central to the identity of American society.Monuments and memorials abound and the downtown area (around the White House, Capitol Hill and the Mall) is undoubtedly the center of the known political universe.Washington was my favourite city to visit[1] and it has joined

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1158279677301468822006-09-15T02:15:00.000+02:002006-11-16T20:15:09.016+02:00

Welcome to Orlando, Florida; America's family entertainment capital.Where lazy-river pool complexes and maxalopolis theme parks vie for a share of your family dollar with deluxe exec golf clubs and authentic licensed Blues Brothers' shows at The House of Blues (free hat and shades included).Where the only non-native English speakers are the hotel staff.I'm writing this at the airport leaving

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1158079121625022272006-09-12T18:25:00.000+02:002006-11-16T20:15:08.938+02:00

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1157757624890848042006-09-09T01:18:00.000+02:002006-11-16T20:15:08.857+02:00

Aaarggh!More insanity.Next stop, Orlando FA for the Catalyst conference.yaaargghhhh

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1157677669078957122006-09-08T03:01:00.000+02:002006-11-16T20:15:08.775+02:00

Two long days in Atlanta and The Heat Is OnAtlanta is a beautiful city with wide forested green belt areas that run in and around downtown.But here's what I've seen of the city so far.Atlanta by NiteBreakfastAtlanta by DayLunch

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1157495587526373742006-09-06T00:30:00.000+02:002006-11-16T20:15:08.692+02:00

yowza! the heat is being turned up.We're(unexpectedly) flying out to Atlanta tommorrow morning at 06:00 to spend 3 days there doing final preparations for next week's customer conference in Orlando before heading back here to continue working on project number two.What? You mean that I'm not here on holiday? sheesh.Also, apparently I'm not the only person on an EiD tour - http://

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1157329813212062572006-09-04T02:24:00.000+02:002006-11-16T20:15:08.611+02:00

Saturday was game-day for the UT (nobody says University of Texas) Longhorns.The Horns (nobody says Longhorns) are the 2005 National College Football champions and have been embraced as messiahs of Austin's sports-drenched folks.Austin doesn't have any major league NFL, Major Leauge Baseball or NBA) sports teams and so having the US champs college ball (nobody says football) team is a big

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1157145359989706832006-09-01T23:11:00.000+02:002006-11-16T20:15:08.535+02:00

Another favourite American cliche which turns out to be true is how inward-looking the media is.The hotel's complimentary newspaper is USA Today which is the most widely read paper in the country with a circulation of 2.25 million copies per day.It sells for 75 cents and is printed on high-quality stock; massive circulation enables that sort of thing.Even though its name makes it clear that it is

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1157063836105469432006-09-01T00:33:00.000+02:002006-11-16T20:15:08.458+02:00

Jet lag sucks. It's creeping like a stinky fish that grabs hold of you by the ankles in the late afternoons.It's also not good for coherent thought.The hotel is close to a suburban area that makes for nice early morning walks (when that stinky fish just won't let you sleep anymore).I'm not sure if it counts as a 'nice' suburb, but the streets are nice and so are the houses - very

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1156971524207024432006-08-30T22:54:00.000+02:002006-11-16T20:15:08.375+02:00

I've arrived in Austin TX after a journey that nears 28 hours in total with just one narrow escape on the final connection between Washington and Austin.Predictably the security at the airports was absurdly tight (I've had my shoes X-rayed) but in all the trip (I hesitate to call it a journey) was relatively uneventful.I mentioned to a friend of mine that I've thought to name this visit to the US

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1156253621472701372006-08-22T15:29:00.000+02:002006-11-16T20:15:08.293+02:00

I've had an inner-ear infection since about Sunday. It's been terrible.One of the symptoms is Vertigo and my head has been to a lesser or greater extent spinning since Sunday evening.Yesterday I couldn't read and kept bumping into things at home. Today is a bit better (I'm back at work) but I'm still woozy and absurdly have gotten used to reading the swaying monitor in front of me.At first I

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1155906514889116822006-08-18T15:06:00.000+02:002006-11-16T20:15:08.213+02:00

If you've ever spent time building a relatively complex web-based user interface this should be familiar.Ooh Fuck

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1155906381375536292006-08-18T15:02:00.000+02:002006-11-16T20:15:08.135+02:00

Eaargh - it's off to AUSTIN next week. Here's the flights.1PYKE/WERNER SA 342 26AUG CPT JNB 1340 1540SA 207 26AUG JNB IAD 1750 #0555UA 7273 27AUG IAD AUS 0815 1034UA 7228 15SEP AUS IAD 1625 2033 (overnight)SA 208 16SEP IAD JNB 1250 #1200SA 343 17SEP JNB CPT 1400 1610fck.This is cool - the world's first commercial

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1155648248129400412006-08-15T14:47:00.000+02:002006-11-16T20:15:08.046+02:00

I wonder whether this will cause me to blip onto the Carnivore/Echelon radar.Hello officers of the Total Information Awareness squad :)Total Information AwarenessOne of the side effects of the recent liquid/gel is that every angry teenager has (probably - hopefully) by now checked out TATP - Triacetone Triperoxide.I've not messed around with explosives for many years now[1] and truth be told I've

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1155306607592581542006-08-11T16:18:00.000+02:002006-11-16T20:15:07.945+02:00

whoo-boy - crazy week.The weather has been absolutely insane - freezing, wet and sunny. It's been good.Ah'm feeling so lowLike the clouds that bring the snowFrom the Northern side of town.I'm off to Austin, TX soon for a three-week tour of duty to implement the first pilot site of the four month-old product that we've been working on.It works, but it'll have to do a major amount of maturing in a

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1154671610319624972006-08-04T08:00:00.000+02:002006-11-16T20:15:07.864+02:00

There's at least 11.5 billion Channels and Nothin' On.You could spend days, weeks, months on the internext and get nothing but super doo-doo crap.Here's one that's not crap; www.style.org.style.org is a service of 13pt, and is dedicated to the memory of Col. Stephen CraigMcCormick.Style.org is a small collection of beautifully executed jokes, timewasters and some really subtle social

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1154438132294216292006-08-01T15:04:00.000+02:002006-11-16T20:15:07.783+02:00

Based on national averages today has to be the coldest day this winter so far.WeatherSA have the following on their frontpageNational Warning - Issued on Tuesday, 1 August 2006 at 05.00CONDITIONS FAVOURABLE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF RUNAWAY FIRES ARE EXPECTED OVER THE NORTH-EASTERN PART OF KWAZULU-NATAL AND THE LOWVELD.VERY COLD, WET AND WINDY CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED ON THE HIGH GROUND OF THE

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1154086460457187842006-07-28T13:22:00.000+02:002006-11-16T20:15:07.701+02:00

Here's quite a cute hack of EmailXT. How embarressing for a security-focussed org.It's not a sophisticated hack by any measure (PHPNuke has to be one of the easiest targets out there - apparently) and really does not qualify BadgeR as anything more than a script kiddie, but I do admire his theatrical mega-doom approach.It features some fancy photoshopping, namechecks and even some lite background

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1154006851802723992006-07-27T15:17:00.000+02:002006-11-16T20:15:07.612+02:00

Word of the day: BrutalismNeatly sums up the architectural style of 70's and 80's public buildings.The UNISA sunnyside campus being one of the most brutal.Trellick TowerGenex TowerUNISA Sunnyside Campus*Tune of the day: U2 - The FlyBono might be a boring poseur but he did look good in them tight pants and goggles.It's no secret that a friend is someone who lets you helpIt's no secret that a liar

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1153478035049907082006-07-21T12:30:00.000+02:002006-11-16T20:15:07.532+02:00

Infini-looFreezing CommonsFreezing KommetjieUnwinnabledon

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1153312161935133162006-07-19T14:24:00.000+02:002006-11-16T20:15:07.453+02:00

Word of the Day:Kleptocracy (klep to kra cy), n.1. A body of people ruled by thieves.2. Describing the regime of North Korea's Kim Jong Il.Kim Jong IlEver since being inducted into the Axis-of-Evil club of mega-evildoers by George W. he's been anaylsed, hated upon, lobbied against and tracked.But he deserves some credit for not doing things by half measures. His regime is the most creatively

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1152874817945298032006-07-14T12:52:00.000+02:002006-11-16T20:15:07.375+02:00

A little idea-fart from the internext.I'm not much of a Garfield fan[1], but someone has hacked it in a cool way.The idea is that if you remove all of Garfield's speech bubbles, thereby turning him into an ordinary cat, the cartoons actually become a lot more insightful.Jon's altered relationship with his formerly wordy companinion[2] strikes very close to home with my relationship with our

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1152712738996200142006-07-12T15:57:00.000+02:002006-11-16T20:15:07.302+02:00

I've previously blogged about wanting to enter the Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest for the opening sentence to the worst possible novel and despite best intentions have again missed this year's contest - rats!Here's the 2006 winner - retired mechanical designer Jim GuigliDetective Bart Lasiter was in his office studying the light from his one small window falling on his super burrito when the door

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1152278616961355532006-07-07T15:13:00.000+02:002006-11-16T20:15:07.226+02:00

Remember He-Man?I have the PowerA massive chunk of my development into a sane, healthy and straight dude involved total immersion into the world of He-Man and his compatriots.I never really obsessed over the animated series[1] but the toys, oh sweet mercy, the toys.The only thing conceivably more valuable than a Masters of the Universe toy was a bicycle. And even that was subject to doubt when a

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1152079806197152642006-07-05T08:02:00.000+02:002006-11-16T20:15:07.149+02:00

Only in America.Yesterday(4th of July) saw the 91st time that speed-eating athletes from around the worldconverged on Coney Island for the annual Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog-Eating Contest.Here's the blurbFour-time world champion Takeru Kobayashi of Japan will look to make history as he defends his title against top eaters from around the globe.And he did; I saw it on

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1151582030998242702006-06-29T13:42:00.000+02:002006-11-16T20:15:07.063+02:00

I first took an interest in Taoism after reading a slim volume entitled Introducing Taoism which I bought at a flea market second-hand book stand.The book identifies three aspects to what is commonly termed Taoism: Taoist philosophy, Taoist practice and Taoist religion.These aspects are roughly derivative, Taoist practice derives from the philosophy and the religion from the practice.Several

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1151331221437606502006-06-26T16:01:00.000+02:002006-11-16T20:15:06.975+02:00

It's been a long time since I last put together a compilation and while I've been piling up songs that I like under a make-shift playlist I've not actually trimmed and organised it.The recent trip to the Natal coast gives me a reason to trim and name it.Long Time No Sea1. The Magic Numbers Forever Lost2. XTC I'd Like That3. David Kramer Biscuits and Biltong4. Luke

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1150984166636302712006-06-22T15:43:00.000+02:002006-11-16T20:15:06.898+02:00

Reading the in-flight magazine ranges from the mind-numbing to the totally absurd.Here's some of my favourite letters from a BA in-flight rag.But first; who has the inclination/energy to write to an in-flight magazine? You must be either very pissed off or very dull.Or just a bunch of kids.Kidding AroundChildren also enjoy High Life.After reading the interesting bits together, our favourite

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1150729624424611292006-06-19T16:43:00.000+02:002006-11-16T20:15:06.805+02:00

We spent this last w/end (a 3-day-er with Friday being Youth Day) on the Natal North Coast - Blythedale beach to be exact.TropicsI've always loved the tropics and spending 3 days in shorts and swimming(!) in the middle of June has made me long to live there again. fantastic.Natal CoastWe stayed in `beautifully appointed` minivillas which are strolling distance from the beach.MinivillasNot even

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1150379700418711402006-06-15T15:47:00.000+02:002006-11-16T20:15:06.723+02:00

From the NYTimes (via that bastion of fine reading - The Sunday Times):Passengers May Now Pirouette Their Way to Gate 3In short it's about an architect who collaborated with a choreographer to improve the flow of people through a new airport terminal.The Grand Foyer at Radio City Music Hall has been described as many things[...] But it has not typically been described in the language of dance, as

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1150355029288686592006-06-15T08:28:00.000+02:002006-11-16T20:15:06.646+02:00

Anita has started recruiting writers and artists for her (and her partner Zanne's) new comic project (the working title is Mtchanna(sp?) loosely translated as Buddy).She recently received the following 'application'. I thought about protecting the innocent etc. but this guy deserves it.Check out the rocking grammar in the subject and the even more rocking name - Nxt-Faze-of-Man !Fuck you.-----

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1150266184314836932006-06-14T08:14:00.000+02:002006-11-16T20:15:06.568+02:00

Please Obey this Traffic SignO Mais Cremoso(the Creamiest!)Mal PietLate HarvestThe Complete Idiot's GuidetoGambling Like a Pro

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1150181972501509662006-06-13T08:51:00.000+02:002006-11-16T20:15:06.490+02:00

Here's a cool little subversion courtesy of Digg.Some years ago the first devices were introduced into malls etc. to drive away loitering teenagers. One of these emits a high-pitched whine which is more audible to (undesirable)teens than what it is to (desirable)older folks.Score one for the old fogeys. Not quite - a British teen has come up with a ringtone which uses the same frequency range

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1149864843953632912006-06-09T16:48:00.000+02:002006-11-16T20:15:06.419+02:00

I have often been accused of/admired for a taste for Schadenfreude: 'A malicious satisfaction obtained from the misfortunes of others'.And the recent events around the Brett Goldin murder crystalised this.Let's be clear, I loathed the motherfucker[1] - even though I had never met him and he had never done me any harm.However, he had a crap hairstyle and him and his Eurotrash friends (in their

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1149607627231340382006-06-06T17:18:00.000+02:002006-11-16T20:15:06.344+02:00

Autumn is gone and winter has arrived to curl my toes deeper into the duvet each morning.Actually, winter has been here for some weeks now and we're currently enjoying a bit of an indian summer.But my mind is very much in winter mode and I'm enjoying the turned leaves and the general quiet in the streets (apart from the horror traffic which I'm neatly avoiding on my bicycle).I really don't have

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1149254683441770672006-06-02T15:18:00.000+02:002006-11-16T20:15:06.269+02:00

Space-time is one of those concepts that everyone knows about, but no-one really seems to know what it is. I certainly don't.It featured prominently in a recent article in the New York Times (courtesy of that bastion of quality smut, The Sunday Times) entitled 'Black Holes Collide, and Gravity Quivers and Ripples'.It's all about a massive installation named the Laser Interferometer Gravitational

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1148983532900431292006-05-30T12:03:00.000+02:002006-11-16T20:15:06.193+02:00

My fellow blogger (and erstwhile Mouseketeer[1]), Britney Spears recently posted a poetic outporing on her official site entitled: 'Remembrance of Who I Am'.It was immediately taken to be a major spit in the direction of K-Fed and its blazing across the internext led to its being pulled from the site almost immediately.It was later re-posted with the tag '*This is for everyone who thinks they

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1148889334047323052006-05-29T09:48:00.000+02:002006-11-16T20:15:06.118+02:00

While on the topic of kerrrrrrazzy, here's Son of Sam.I first picked up on the Son of Sam story from the Spike Lee movie Summer of Sam.Summer of SamI had never really gotten into Spike Lee films and didn't buy the whole auteur-thing that was being sold about him.But I found Summer of Sam instantly engaging and clever.What makes it work so well is that Son of Sam (the serial killer) isn't really

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1148566976820460082006-05-25T16:17:00.000+02:002006-11-16T20:15:06.035+02:00

Paranoia:1. Suspicion of others that is not based on fact.2. A psychosis characterized by a system of delusions with often include the belief of persecution or grandeur without hallucinations.3. A mental disorder, or an element of several other mental illnesses,characterized by suspicion, delusions of persecution and jealousy.Reading a revisionary article about Talking Heads in my new favourite

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1148385951518479142006-05-23T13:57:00.000+02:002006-11-16T20:15:05.960+02:00

The above is one of my favourite T-shirt slogans.Phobialist.com lists a junk-load of phobias - all of which are apparently real.Unfortunately it doesn't seem to include what I believe must be a common phobia: Fear of the sounds that other people make in public toilets.How about Splashypublophobia?Here's a selection of what they do list:Ablutophobia- Fear of washing or bathing:Elderly Lady: '

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1147935435724814582006-05-18T08:50:00.000+02:002006-11-16T20:15:05.888+02:00

I'm generally uncomfortable with the ad campaigns that vorsprung-type companies deploy from time to time - the type where they showcase the revolutionarywork of an artist or architect (including a suitably thoughful voice-over by said artist/architect) and then add their little badge onto it at the end.What it's saying is: 'Here's this fantastic person and his/her visionary work. Oh, and we're

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1147761937371427682006-05-16T08:41:00.000+02:002006-11-16T20:15:05.813+02:00

I don't really keep up with ca$h money games on the internet (i.e. games where the player wins small amounts of cash, paid for by advertisers). But (via digg) - here's Moola.What makes this model interesting is that players don't win by beating the system; they win by playing other players.In a nutshell:- You start out by watching an ad and answering a question about it.- This gets you $0.01- You

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1147428187147677372006-05-12T11:52:00.000+02:002006-11-16T20:15:05.711+02:00

Ok, here we go, it's high-minded blab time[5].The core principle of anarquismo sin adjetivos is that all forms of anarchism (Social Revolutionary to Anarcho Capitalism to Primitivism) are welcome and that spending energy on arguing amongst the different streams is wasteful. After all, the end goal is always freedom.Apart from this concept, which I support, my interest is individualist

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1147261999402234792006-05-10T13:44:00.000+02:002006-11-16T20:15:05.639+02:00

I wonder if a term exists for getting all of your news of a particular type, in my case South African news, from headlines exclusively.If you can't tell me what's happening in five words or less then don't bother.Here's what I've learnt today.'Barbie' se Dirk vlug na RuslandDina dalk ge-frameJake's shock for Stormers starsSecurity strike: two more dieEskom warns of power cuts

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1147173257070865532006-05-09T13:12:00.000+02:002006-11-16T20:15:05.565+02:00

Here's a great take on the importance of hacking in a free society.It's from an interview (via this story) with one of the creators of Psiphon - Nart Villeneuve.Hacking is an important philosophy we need to recover in our society, because so many systems of control are embedded in technology, most of which we're unaware of.The more we take the screws off and understand how things work, the more

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1147070114091372502006-05-08T08:28:00.000+02:002006-11-16T20:15:05.495+02:00

Henry (our neighbour) has, thankfully, gotten in some kids to redo the grafitti mural against his garage wall.The previous one was a bit blah presenting a complex narrative commenting on contemporary social issues of teenage displacement zzz....The new one is just a bunch of colourful scrawls - much better.scrawlOn sunday we drove out to Franschoek for the autumn vineyards - fantastic.In an

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1146824718211551472006-05-05T12:10:00.000+02:002006-11-16T20:15:05.418+02:00

I'm really starting to get into the second season of Lost(sad, I know).Things are now becoming reely strange with the discovery of the first bunker (Station 3 - The Swan) of the Dharma Initiative.I like the way that the writers chose to adopt elements of chinese mythology into the whole thing (though the name, DHARMA, is a bit obvious [1]).The station logo (The Swan)is a very clever take on the

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1146723805779221662006-05-04T08:18:00.000+02:002006-11-16T20:15:05.341+02:00

The Revolution will not be televised. it is happening live on the internet as we(uhm, I) speak (uhm, type).Its bringer is DJ Danger Mouse and he makes The Neptunes look like Britney Spears.In the last we years he has been responsible for three of the most influential musical productions around:In 2004 he produced the biggest bootleg ever - The Grey Album and became the first person to be

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1146234656240016682006-04-28T16:24:00.000+02:002006-11-16T20:15:05.266+02:00

I am totally obsessed with the video for Crosses (mentioned earlier).But not the high resolution version(13,473KB) - the low res one(824KB).The sound compression adds a strange phaser effect which renders the song extra terrestrial. Get it now.

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1146043098847846802006-04-26T11:12:00.000+02:002006-11-16T20:15:05.184+02:00

When I first heard System of a Down I really liked them - really.I still like their riffs and the tempo at which they play - fast; and Science on Toxicity is a killer tune.But last nite I saw the video for a single from Mesmerize (which I listened to briefly before having to run away lest I vomit in my shoes) named Lonely Day.The tune is fine and the video quite good, but the lyrics, *sigh*, the

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1145968549321537492006-04-25T14:30:00.000+02:002006-11-16T20:15:05.111+02:00

Some music worth checking out.Frank Black - Honeycomb [1]The guy who introduced me to this described it as Norah Jones on acid - apt.He also opined that not listening to Frank Black beyond the Pixies constitutes several mortal sins.It is gorgeous and while I'm not into counting sins I think that Norah Jones-Hoffman would agree.Jose Gonzalez - CrossesThis has to be one of the most beautiful songs

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1145626244157830842006-04-21T15:29:00.000+02:002006-11-16T20:15:05.038+02:00

Now's the time to apply for your Brannas Inspekteur license[1]![1] I suspect that if you send this form to the PO Box given at the end of the form, you may very well actually get one of these.

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1145626132286423472006-04-21T15:19:00.000+02:002006-11-16T20:15:04.957+02:00

hehe - Brazilians are funny. They have an unfailing belief in their ability to make anything work - _anything_They[1] claim to have invented volleyball, petrol-from-coal (uhm, Sasol?) and... bananas.check this courtesy of skyline-technologies.comA lesson for those who choose to see good engineering as an optional extra Petrobras built the P36 Production Rig (Biggest in the

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1145625583409945842006-04-20T15:15:00.000+02:002006-11-16T20:15:04.877+02:00

I've been reading Digg for a few weeks now and it has steadily been working its way up through my aggregator page (it's up there with my gmail inbox and Techdirt).Digg is tech/geeky but seems more balanced than slashdot and a little more serious than reddit.This morning it has a link to some amazing photography from http://www.missouriskies.org/But let's not get carried away, Digg has already

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1145341987414669372006-04-18T08:10:00.000+02:002006-11-16T19:58:59.812+02:00

Robbie Williams on Thursday nite at the Greenpoint Stadium (friend of a friend selling one ticket).Very good show, very professional.the circus is back in townThe sound was good, the band pumping, the entertainer suitably entertaining with plenty of laddish scruffiness and inter-song banter[1].But somehow I didn't connect emotionally with either the music or the singer.The problem is that, as the

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1144907416732354552006-04-13T07:38:00.000+02:002006-11-16T19:58:59.685+02:00

So I've managed to score a ticket(at the original price) to Robbie Williams - it's a long story and though I know that there are going to be bits that will suck (Ah'm lovin' angels instead - yuck) I just want to hear what it sounds like when 45000 people scream at someone else.Robbiiiiieeee, Robbiiieeeee!Fuck yeah.

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1144664209555709692006-04-10T12:10:00.000+02:002006-11-16T19:58:59.576+02:00

Coffee is KingS1 3rd Floor's beloved coffee machineMeat is SinRondebosch teens take a standThe DonaldAnita rates this as the best book cover of the new millenium. I concur.

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1144413714753841092006-04-07T14:39:00.000+02:002006-11-16T19:58:59.427+02:00

I've been following with some interest the development of Darknet technologies over the last year or so.It's good to know that geeks are already thinking of ways of building free and secure networks on top of the internet.At some point I'd like to set up a WASTE network just to know that I (and a fewaccomplices) own a little piece of the on-line everything where we can do as we please.I suppose

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1144250199663427732006-04-05T17:00:00.000+02:002006-11-16T19:58:59.326+02:00

I've now clearly hit the uninformed optimism phase of my stay at S1.In today's training (reely aimed at operators and therefore quite, uhm, simple[1]) we looked at Postilion Postcard which is a very cool thing.The technology is solid and fast - not like J2EE kinda-fast, really fast.Postcard runs in a Java VM together with the Postilion core (named Transaction Manager) and together they consume

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1144078195485276062006-04-03T17:22:00.000+02:002006-11-16T19:58:59.216+02:00

So here's my new office, I share with a guy named Otto (not in picture), the workstation is a proper PC (no Celeron, enough RAM) and there's a network access point for my notebook.The plant is a little on the weedy side (needs some attention) and the whiteboard looks like it hasn't been cleaned in years.In short a typical IT office - I could be comfortable here.Also, I believe it or not, wonder

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1144052695271917222006-04-03T10:17:00.000+02:002006-11-16T19:58:59.097+02:00

Before seeing this film I was somewhat conflicted about it - unsure of which way it would go. Mainly because it pushes the notion of 'asking questions about contemporary society'.After seeing it I'm not conflicted anymore. What utter nonsense^H^H^H^H^H^H crap.I was going to write a long rant about why V for Neo-in-a-fancy-dress-mask is just wrong on so many levels, but have

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1143701627595784512006-03-30T08:47:00.000+02:002006-11-16T19:58:58.981+02:00

As of Monday (S1-day) my commute changes.I'll be trading in thisfor thisI'm actually looking forward to this - it'll be nice to shed some baggage.Also, on my new route I only cross one robot and the entire trip takes about 10 minutes (door-to-door) as opposed to the current 20-45 minutes (depending on traffic).Trivia: I've had this bike since university which makes me feel a bit like Anita's dad

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1143631156132435732006-03-29T13:05:00.000+02:002006-11-16T19:58:58.848+02:00

Two more days in the SAP project office, two more...Here's another hilarity.We share a floor with the CTI Claremont campus(and I use the term campus loosely) which means that we share loos with a bunch of 18-22 year-olds who've chosen to launch themselves into the career world via a quality education from a private institution[1].For some months now these shared loos have been really gross,

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1143537261126628922006-03-28T11:11:00.000+02:002006-11-16T19:58:58.720+02:00

I've been cleaning up the accounts that I have scattered on various Unix/Linux systems all over the place, backing up files, deleting history(!), changing passwords to something innocuous.I've for a while now been thinking of blogging my discarded passwords, but am worried that I still have some accounts on long-forgotten sites that use those.I tend use two passwords at a time, a general-purpose

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1143201367489539242006-03-24T13:51:00.000+02:002006-11-16T19:58:58.581+02:00

I've been trying to make sense of the variety of movements, schools and -isms that label themselves anarchous or are pulled out of someone's hat when talking about anarchy.Here's a schematic of my round-up so farIt all starts with anarquismo sin adjetives

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1143195677060134802006-03-24T12:16:00.000+02:002006-11-16T19:58:58.455+02:00

First hearing Amon Tobin (Permutations) was a life changing event for me.It was at a time when I was learning to relax a lot more and to just go around digging strange new things, and hey presto! there it was - the most futurist audio assault on the planet.FuturistI spent a few years bravely following Amon Tobin's progress but lost touch with him around the release of Supermodified - when I

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1143108251935797242006-03-23T11:58:00.000+02:002006-11-16T19:58:58.325+02:00

Every now and again The Register spits out a gem like this one.At long last, Sun Microsystems will fire up its retail grid computing service and give any US customer access to a supercomputer class system.Casual Sun observers will be scratching their heads right about now, believing that Sun had already announced such a service a long time ago. That's correct.Sun first "launched" its $1 per CPU

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1143019125406133702006-03-22T11:11:00.000+02:002006-11-16T19:58:58.203+02:00

Anita is in China this week - so I've been cleaning out the fridge.I tease her on an ongoing basis about her habit of keeping leftovers :)Aah, the house(and the fridge) is so empty.Here's me looking lank ruff. ooooh. :P

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1142840056860020922006-03-20T09:27:00.000+02:002006-11-16T19:58:58.043+02:00

I've recently discovered The Word at one of those remaindered magazine stores.I love its tagline: 'At last! Something to read!' which is exactly how I feel about it (great cover CDs as well).From the December 2005 issue - an interview with Sharon Osborne.Se comes across as a really intelligent and funny person who just happens to not care what anyone else thinks of her. very cool.Here's a snippet

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1142504960752052172006-03-16T12:18:00.000+02:002006-11-16T19:58:57.904+02:00

Fuck, I fucking _hate_ smarmy fucking politicians[1].After some weeks of tug-of-war the DA (spitooie!) have managed to sneak their candidate (Helen Zille) into the mayoral lazyboy.What really ticks me off is the way that she accepted the golden chain as featured on the front page of the Cape Times today.It's like frickin' Eye of the Tiger was playing in the background or something.I'm da frickin'

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1142330410968123712006-03-14T11:47:00.000+02:002006-11-16T19:58:57.732+02:00

also saw this great movie last w/end which I can recommend highly.Not since (uhm, can't think of an example now) have I seen a film that bombards its viewers with such a wide range of Technicolor emotions.It is at times hillarious, at times frightening - think Snatch meets Sexy Beast meets Requiem for a Dream.The soundtrack is also grrrrreat.Especially the Troubles(mp3 snippet) by the Beta Band.

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1142258337995945502006-03-13T15:54:00.000+02:002006-11-16T19:58:57.533+02:00

Saw a really cool t-shirt on a tourist-type at the Waterfront this w/end.It said:Buenos Fucking AiresFriday nite at Casa PykeMusica get RockMusica get Angus YoungMusica get YouMusica love YouYou love MusicaYou love Atomic Kitten

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1141983116903293702006-03-10T11:29:00.000+02:002006-11-16T19:58:57.429+02:00

Warning! some pretension[1] ahead - a pinch of salt is recommendedBy way of introduction...I've been interested in anarchism as a viable (and I hate to use the word here) philosophy for a while now.And by philosophy I don't mean vague ramblings or a mish-mash of convenient ideas - I mean a simple, solid point of view which can inform my everyday life.Maybe I should quickly mention the image that

wernernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7305670.post-1141815693856407552006-03-08T12:58:00.000+02:002006-11-16T19:58:57.288+02:00

I'm very lucky to have an ear for grammar and tenses.I pick up languages very quickly (I've picked up slightly wonky conversational Portuguese in two visits to Brazil), mainly because I somehow seem to be able to hear when something sounds correct instinctively.This is the case with Portuguese where I am very sure of whether I form a sentence correctly or not.This does not, however, mean that if

wernernoreply@blogger.com