Diary of a Reprobate

Happy birthday Nikola Tesla

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 15:34:07 GMT

The changing face of online journalism

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 12:17:29 GMT

A friend of mine sent me this image. It's sad because it's true.

Decking and costuming.

Sat, 30 May 2009 14:29:46 GMT

This last week I've spent a few days helping my step-father put down a deck. I've discovered just how unfit I've become (not that I was Charles Atlas to begin with). My lower back still twinges and I should get myself off the to the doctor. Probably need to see a physio.

Thursday I began the fabric part of my costume. I laid out and cut the red fabric. The helmet is done all bar the chin chain, which I need to pick up. I have a belt buckle, though I need to find a place that sells white belt leather. I remember there used to be a place in Richmond that sold it (and rather cheaper that Lefflers). I can't even recall the name of the place. Buttons I have, rank pips I have for stars though I'm still hunting for crowns. Got one watching on Ebay but the bugger went onto "Holiday hold" so I can't buy them until he gets back. My not-so-inner pedant says the crowns need to be Queens Crowns not Kings Crowns (which seem to be easier to find unsurprisingly).

The mechanical hand is moving from nebulous to actual. I've acquired a wetsuit glove for the hand and intend to build onto it. This should still give me enough movement of the actual hand yet still make the joins look like they're connected via an India Rubber seal or something. We've done some small experiments for finger joints using plastic tubing but I need to make a trip to Clarke Rubber and have a chat with someone there about what might be available.

Lots of things in early stages but getting there.

Getting back on the costume horse

Tue, 05 May 2009 18:22:44 GMT

Having been inspired to pick up a needle and thread again after several years of neglecting all but the replacing of buttons, I thought I's start a post here and hopefully over the next few months I will add assorted pictures of the progress of the costume.

For those who may be unaware Continuum this year is themed "Galaxies by Gaslight" so I'm wanting to try something along those lines.

After a long and protracted percolation on what sort of outfit I could wear that would be of interest to me but also fit my build and still be practical I eventually decided on the concept of steampunk Major General Stanley (of Pirates of Penzance fame).

At this stage the idea is starting out with these pieces:

McCall's Costume patter M4745 as the base for the outfit.

Thankfully our Beloved Prime Minister's stimulous package allowed me to have a splurge at Spotlight and buy some red wool. It's not as heavy as I'd like but then wool bought from retailers in Australia rarely is. I'm planning on lining it in wool and the too layers plus interfacing should get it to sit quite nicely.

I had picked up a collection fo General Service buttons via Ebay last eyar which also included to belt hooks for the tunic.

I bought myself a white pith helmet from Mitchell's Adventure in the city. I'd been looking at similar one's online last year before the dollar plummited but I didn't want to spend the money on something I had no guarentee would fit. Being of the fuller brain than many (my story and I'm sticking to it) buying hats can often be a pain. I've acquired a spike and a helmet plate via Ebay and have a chap in Oakleigh who is making me the chin chain. It still needs the hooks for the chain and I may send off an order to Thinredline and get a couple of metal pieces needed. Still debating the puggaree. We'll see.

Shoes I can use my own and trousers will be made. The only other thing is a white belt.

The steampunk aspect of it, since so far it sounds like cobbled together pseudo-Victoriana, will be the intention of making an artificial looking left hand. Currently I'm thinking of a base of a plain black wetsuit glove and then thin plastic tubing create the finger sections and paint them appropriate metallic finish. Some sort of plate for the back of the hand. If I get time I will try and extend the hand to a forearm and hand but I'll see how time goes.

I can at least start on the jacket now.

Real pirates

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 13:29:25 GMT

Dear ARIA,

These guys are pirates. Script kiddies who download your music are bootleggers.

Maybe you'll also stop with the fucking annoying ads comparing downloading to purse snatching. Though I'd love to see something in court where the claims of vast amounts of sums lost to downloaders are dismissed your own marketing compares it to petty theft.

Cheers

Me.

Claiming your text books claimable on Tax?

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 09:30:02 GMT

I know I'll be looking at this one carefully.

A Victorian student has successfully claimed education-related expenses as a tax deduction, after a court decision that could open the door for thousands of student-assistance recipients nationwide.

Full story here.

Long overdue update

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 09:08:29 GMT

It's been some two months since I wrote anything here so I thought I should let you know I'm still alive.

Uni has settled into classes and courses. The text book issue was resolved. It turns out that both lists were incorrect and the class had no texts assigned as the Bookshop person had said. Our lecturer thought it would be cheaper for us if she just uploaded the various extracts online for us to view. After some discussion in the first couple of tutorials the overwhelming preference was to pay the copyright fee for printing and get them collated into a student reader. I know I vastly prefer having printed reading material than reading it online. Apart from being more practical it doesn't make your screen go funny when you write on it with a highlighter.

I've renewed some acquaintances from last year though most of the people I was friends with from last year are not doing the same classes as me this semester. Have to organise to catch up with Sarah for lunch at some point. The horrible cow went to Italy over the summer and did a course on Italian art. So very jealous.

The classes themselves are interesting. Though the Nazi Germany one is certainly more of a brain struggle. Mainly because there's a lot more being added to it than the usual tropes of "here's what the Nazis did and they were bad M'Kay". And so far its mostly been the origins. I know bits of this but the actually history is far more complex than I've given it credit for.

cold_echo will be pleased to know that the glass cabinet has finally been given a home in the hallway and it is now out of the lounge.

I discovered a tobacconist in Frankston, Cignall Specialist Tobacconist who must be one of the few remaining places in Melbourne that deal with pipe smokers. For those who may be unaware I have had the occasional smoke on the clay pipe I acquired for re-enacting. I then moved on to using a long stemmed Ropp Cherrywood that I believe used to belong to my uncle. I might only smoke once a month or so but I do find it rather relaxing. Anyway the vulcanite stem on the Ropp broke and the clay one had snapped both during the house move. Since finding pipe suppliers is harder than finding stems I gave them a ring to see if they could help. I headed down a few days later and came away with a replacement stem for the Ropp that I was able to fit in with a little bit of sanding, two types of tobacco and a pipe lighter. I'm not going to be paying off any of his kids school fees with what I will buy but I had possibly one of the best customer service experiences I've had in years.

Uncle Kev's incentivasation payment arrived and I've had a little splurge on Ebay, though mostly replacing VHS with DVDs, paid some bills and put some aside to get the windscreen replaced. But after today I'm glad I had the money in the bank. My watch is an old Seiko given to me as my 13th birthday present. It's a damn good watch but it was in dire need of a service. I took it into the service centre today and they said they'd need to send it off to Seiko, but it was going to cost me $120. I just about died. Yes I know it's a good quality watch and as such parts might cost a little bit more but for a clean and re-oil I wouldn't have thought it would be even half that. Ouch!

I'm also hoping to use Kev's cheque to pay for some wool fabric for the costume I want to make for Continuum. If anyone knows of any good suppliers for jacket wool in red please point me their direction. I am so out of touch with costuming suppliers it's not funny.

Gung Haggis Fat Choy

Fri, 23 Jan 2009 14:29:33 GMT

Now THIS is multiculturalism.

Todd Wong is 5th Generation Canadian, but people still ask him if he's Chinese. As a teenager he started introducing Chinese New Year celebrations to friends. When at university in the 90's he was asked to help with the organisation of the annual Robbie Burns night (which falls on the 25th of January each year). Realising that Chinese New Year was only 2 days after it that year he combined the two and thus was born Gung Haggis Fat Choy and Toddish McWong.

Do you think if we make it "Gung Haggis Fat Choy, mate" we could combine Australia Day into it? I mean the tradition meat pie has about as much actual meat as your average haggis.

Love the outfit though :-)

Dear gods noooooooo!

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 17:16:00 GMT

I'd been hearing about a proposed "prequel" for Disney's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. I the current rumour is that the director, McG, wants Will Smith for the role of Nemo.

To me Smith was one of the reasons Wild Wild West sucked so bad. He had to jiggy up the West. That and the complete lack of chemistry between him and Kline.

The man CAN act - Enemy of the State I think is one of his best films. But his Fresh Prince thing just annoys the crap out of me.

I can see the rapping mermaids for the music video already. Probably played by the Pussycat Dolls.

*cries*

Windows 7

Sat, 10 Jan 2009 02:11:04 GMT

I read in the paper (yes actual dead tree edition) last night that Windows 7 was due to be released. Though it seems Microsoft has underestimated the interest in ~~ripping to shreds~~ reviewing the newest operating system for Windoze.

[Disclaimer. I use a PC. I've never been much of a one for religious cults so I haven't joined the born-again Mac users]

The thing I'm trying to puzzle out is the name.

I remember 3.1

After that came Windows 95. Then 98, 2000, ME (the bastard child no-one talks about), XP and now Vista.

So which of these were 4,5 and 6?

Although it's probably closer to random-marketing-wank in picking the number I'm curious

Periodic Table of Awesoments

Tue, 30 Dec 2008 06:19:32 GMT

Pundit Kitchen can be educational

Sun, 21 Dec 2008 13:17:51 GMT

LOLcats, Failblog, Engrishfunny and a few others are sites which post pictures with captions.

Occasionally you learn something. Like the Ukranian Army doesn't allow women to serve in the active military. So their reservist women usually end up in support roles.

Though it's possible they're Belarus Police women.

Interesting uniforms though.

Garden Blitz

Sun, 21 Dec 2008 01:53:45 GMT

This morning my Mother, Brother and Step-Dad came over and together we attacked the garden. Two lawn mowers, two petrol line trimmers and a hedge trimmer means everything except the tops of the hedge have been done. Just needed a higher ladder to get to the top of the hedge and trim the top off it.

The many hands make light work adage is true.

Valé Majel Barrett-Roddenberry

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 03:08:16 GMT

Back in my youth I was a big Trek fan. Joined Austrek, turned up to movie premiers in uniform, ran a Star Trek convention. Then I moved on to other things. I still liked Trek, it just wasn't my focus any more.

So it's a sad day today. There have been quite a few losses this week for me. Several online friends have died and though I only ever met Majel once, she was another who I knew a little something about.

After a long fight with leukaemia, she has passed away.

The one link between all of the various Star Trek franchises. You will be missed.

Microwave Christmas

Tue, 16 Dec 2008 14:49:28 GMT

Valé Bettie Paige

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 04:41:43 GMT

The epitome of the pin up girl, Bettie Paige, has died, aged 85.

Christmas meme

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 05:07:00 GMT

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Paper

2. Real tree or Artificial?
Real if possible, though I still own an artificial one

3. When do you put up the tree?
Nothing goes up before December 4th. There shall be no Christmas before birthday.

4. When do you take the tree down?
I usually wait the traditional 12 days.

5. Do you like eggnog?
This is where I make comments about bears in woods

6. Favourite gift received as a child?
I remember when I was given one of the Shogun Warrior robot toys. I still have it :-)

7. Hardest person to buy for?
Dad

8. Easiest person to buy for?
Ellyn

9. Do you have a nativity scene?
No

10. Mail or email Christmas cards?
I am full of good intentions (among being just full of it) but I haven't sent out Christmas cards for a few years. Maybe this year is time to change.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
Old fashioned alarm clock from a work Kris Kringle. Still I got $15 for it on eBay :-)

12. Favourite Christmas Movie?
Die Hard

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
I'm usually a last minute shopper. I have in past years braved the 3am Chadstone consumer frenzy.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
Very rarely

15. Favourite thing to eat at Christmas?
Plum pudding with brandy butter. Mmmmmmmm.

16. Lights on the tree?
Yes. If I could afford a working set of vintage lights with the bulbs in various shapes like santas or grapes or snow houses, I'd get them. Mainly for childhood reminisces.

17. Favourite xmas song?
Carol of the Bells. Being in a minor key it has that odd quality which goes nicely against the Christmas saccharin.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?
Visit Mum's. Though it's not like she's in another state or anything.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer?
Yep.

20. Angel on the tree top or a star?
Russian glass spire

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?
Christmas morning. Well usually lunchtime-ish, there not being anyone here to open them with.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year?
Seeing the Xmas decorations go up in fricken September. And the forests of junkmail.

23. Favourite ornament theme or colour?
I do love the green and red. As for ornaments I'm very fond of glass ornaments.

24. Favourite memory of Christmas?
I miss being able to go to Grandma's and swim in the pool on Christmas Day. I still have a vivid memory of sneaking into the lounge room very late one night (or early one morning). I must have been about 7 or so. The Christmas tree lights were still on, it was dark outside and the pillow cases had been filled. It was torture to have to go back to bed and wait for sunrise.

25. What do you want for Christmas this year?
Plane ticket to Canada?

RIAA may finally face someone bigger than them

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 04:26:58 GMT

There's a variety of opinions on the ethics of music file sharing. Some are in Teh Intarwebz should B free category. Others are in the "user pays" block. I'm more inclined to go with the free-sample-and-if-I-like-it-I'll-buy-it-group. From my understanding a musician makes more money from concerts and merchandise (t-shirts and things) than actual album sales. I'm aware that this differs depending on the genre but as a generalisation I believe it's fair.

But the over-arching bodies like ARIA and RIAA in the US use tactics that are high on the bully boy scale. ARIA has managed to get Music Industry Piracy Investigations some sort of pseudo police status in having it rather than the police carry out warrants and seizures.

In the US RIAA is noted for suing those who are easy targets; like grandmothers or 12 year old kids. There was a lot of curiosity as to why RIAA left the known file sharers of Harvard University alone. Seems the University's outspoken professors of the Berkman Center for Internet & Society might have something to do with it.

Professor Charles Nesson of the Centre decided he'd waited long enough for RIAA to come knocking on Harvard's Door and went out to see if he could find a case to become involved in. He has.

He makes the argument that the Digital Theft Deterrence and Copyright Damages Improvement Act of 1999 is very much unconstitutional, in that its hefty fines for copyright infringement (misleadingly called "theft" in the title of the bill) show that the bill is effectively a criminal statute, yet for a civil crime. That's because it really focuses on punitive damages, rather than making private parties whole again. Even worse, it puts the act of enforcing the criminal statute in the hands of a private body (the RIAA) who uses it for profit motive in being able to get hefty fines:
Imagine a statute which, in the name of deterrence, provides for a $750 fine for each mile-per-hour that a driver exceeds the speed limit, with the fine escalating to $150,000 per mile over the limit if the driver knew he or she was speeding. Imagine that the fines are not publicized, and most drivers do not know they exist. Imagine that enforcement of the fines is put in the hands of a private, self-interested police force, that has no political accountability, that can pursue any defendant it chooses at its own whim, that can accept or reject payoffs in exchange for not prosecuting the tickets, and that pockets for itself all payoffs and fines. Imagine that a significant percentage of these fines were never contested, regardless of whether they had merit, because the individuals being fined have limited financial resources and little idea of whether they can prevail in front of an objective judicial body. Looks like there may finally be some interesting viewing going on with copyright laws in the US.

Hat tip to Copyfight.

Steampunk props

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 08:40:24 GMT

Having not done any actual costuming for close to two years now I think I've decided to dust off the accoutrements and make something for Continuum next year.

I'm contemplating a quasi-military soldier.

Partly inspired by this:

this:

And thchap to the right of this photo:

My own physique is probably not the most suitable for a military person (or at least not one of the 19th century) but I could possibly tend something toward the Professor Challenger idea.

Still combining ideas.

A productive day

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 09:28:30 GMT

Managed to get quite a few domestic things done today.

All library books returned
2 loads of washing done
Back lawn mowed
Tax query cleared up at C*nterlink (after waiting for an hour in the queue.
Signed up with the local DVD library

And I'm even contemplating removing some of the dustbunnies after dinner.

My life is non-stop excitement let me tell you!

Deryni movie in the works

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 01:40:43 GMT

The Hollywood Reporter has news that Katherine Kurtz's novel Deryni Rising may soon be turned into a film.

The deryni novels have been going since the 70s and are close to 20 books. The Deryni are a psionic or "operant" people who are able to perform things like telepathy, truth reading, healing, and other feats that, in a pseudo 12th century British Isles are pretty much "magic". The Church in the series is based on the historical one, though without the Pope. The Church has decreed that Magic is evil and therefore the Deryni are the Spawn of Satan (or pretty close to it). The first novel follows the story of young Prince Kelson who has just come of age (14) and is now King of Gwynedd. Duke Alaric, his father's loyal advisor, is half Deryni, and Kelson begins to suspect there may be something fishy about his own heritage.

I'd hardly call these books well known, so they're certainly not going to be getting a budget within sniffing distance of The Lord of the Rings. I suppose the only hope is that it isn't given the butchering given to Susan Cooper's The Dark Is Rising, recently released as The Seeker.

If done right, they would certainly be a franchise. You've got handsome knights, political intrigue, magic, romance and your actors don't have to sit through 4 hours of make-up to look like dwarves or elves. I've been reading the series since I discovered them in High School. Though I admit I haven't read the two recent "Childe Morgan" stories yet.

Fingers crossed they don't botch it.

Saturday at Uni

Sat, 08 Nov 2008 02:42:54 GMT

Unsurprisingly, it's rather quiet in the Library at Uni the week after classes have finished and on a Saturday :-)

OK. Work time

Valé Michael Crichton

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 01:25:11 GMT

A man whose novels Westworld, Jurrasic Park, and Timeline seemed to imply some pathological hatred of theme parks has died.

Some people have written that he was anti-science. I always viewed his writing that it was not the science that was at fault but that what corrupt people will do with that science that was the problem.

I always enjoyed his books. I'll miss him.

Those crazy politicians are at it again

Thu, 30 Oct 2008 07:58:38 GMT

It's official: Tennant quits Doctor Who

Thu, 30 Oct 2008 05:37:38 GMT

"When Doctor Who returns in 2010 it won't be with me"

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7698539.stm