In the evening

My house mate is using his laptop with wireless network to contol a mother computer elsewhere which is showing a display on MY TV. They later watched movies off the big computer, initialy from the internet. I should charge them for watching my good TV. Sometimes they play Mario Kart which makes me angry. I purchased the TV for GranTurismo 4 only! And good things I like to watch.

Coming to America

My friend Mike is going to America soon. It’s been a while since I have been, but since Mike is such an Australian I thought I would try to remember some tips to soften the culture shock.

1. Look both ways before crossing the road. They drive on the wrong side, but you are more vulnerable to death as a pedestrian. It happens.
2. Generally, you don't call other people "mate", or "Bruce". It will seam rude.
3. US$$ is worth a little more. But food is cheaper, so yeah. Supersize!
4. The 5c coins (nickels) are bigger than the 10c coins (dimes). Be fluent in knowing this.
5. Don’t be scared to look a person in the eye. Just give a big fake smile. Fake is OK in the USA.
6. A 25c coin is called a quarter. Four of them make a dollar, which is really "neat".
7. When driving, the horn is not an emergency device. It is a regular driving aid. (You can use the word "regular" a lot. I’m not sure why.)
8. Even when tired or pissed off, maintain standardised American curtesy. This often means saying "your welcome" in response to everything. Eg. "Oh, you want to steal my car!? Your welcome".
9. When you are driving, at an intersection you may turn right at any time, even if the light is red. But give way. (Most states, I think?)
10. In the bathroom you will find a plunger…
11. You are supposed to tip people working in the service industry. Use your calculator to find the correct percentage? Nah.
12. If you wear a seatbelt, you are either on Queer Eye for the Straight Guy or Ned Flanders or Australian. But I would recommend it because the air bag can break your nose.
13. Be familiar with general geographical terms. The mid-west is not halfway down the West Coast. But you are not from Tanzania either, so be fair.
14. Joy riding a cop car is fun but can be dangerous. They often leave the engine running. Pull the steering wheel down till it clicks in a vertical position, pull the right lever down to "D", and hit the gas. Too easy.

These are mostly car related. More on relationships soon.

Mechanics

I have withdrawn from the subject KNE112 Engineering Mechanics, because I can get credit for having done similar subjects.

Someone asked me, "is that because you are a mechanic?"

The answer is no. Being "a mechanic", (Certificate III in Automotive Mechanical - Light Vehicle AUR31009), working on cars etc, is very different to a academic subject in mechanics.

A mechanic is taught only very simple theory on weights, forces, torque etc. Most of what a mechanic knows comes intuatively along with experience. A longer bar increases leverage, a heavy thing is harder to lift etc. (Forces felt in your own body often). But don't dis the mechanic, because he will know these things very well. Many people don't even know which way to turn a bolt.

The Diploma of Mechanical Engineering I did (at Tafe) is more similar to my current studies. In engineering mechanics, we calculate the forces in a beam, moments of inertia, tension in a rope, forces on a mass due to gravity and centrifugal acceleration etc. If a car weighed 950kg and was traveling at 140km/h on a banked circular road of radius 500M, what angle does the banked road need to be to maintain the cars position with minimal forces on the tyres?

John Cleese may have said

"Every form of comedy has been done. There are no more jokes left."

If he did say that, then I think he is fundamentaly wrong. Comedy releys on, and is a comment on culture. And as culture always changes new jokes remind us of our situation.

Clothes make the Man

I have started uni again. I look terrible. I need some new clothes and a younger body. I found a heap of clothes in the corner of my room that I used to wear a few years ago. Now I look like 1995 man. I found about 5 pairs of jeans, all with holes. They went in the bin. I'm not totaly lost in shops, but it's still hard on my own. I will admit that all my clothes come from Target, but I used to get stuff from a JeansWest shop. And I have got the cheap jeans that Myer sell sometimes.

I just bought a jacket. It's probably all wrong, who knows. I am having a mini crisis.

Subaru Safari

www.rally.com.au

I have always been a little interested in rally, and I am familiar with rally cars mechanicaly. I have worked for Toyota for a few years and got a good look at the rally cars when they were in town. Not this year, but over the last 3 years I was able to chat to Niel Bates and his mechanics as they used our workshop. I got some close up pics of the cars, engine bay and underneith. I still have a sump off a 3S-GTE they accidently left behind.

I have never taken the big step to enter rally. It should be fun (or just alot of work and money) once I decide to give it a proper go. (This is not to be underestimated. The driving takes skill, the cars are complicated). I have had some driving practice, but not heaps.

I will view the cars on Friday night, and watch the spectator stage in Geeveston. I can't be bothered going into the forrest this year. Last year we spent the weekend in the forrest with radios and stuff, as officials. We nearly got lost, but me old Corolla got us through, sideways at times.

Summer Ride

Your Summer Ride is a 1976 Corolla Coupe

You like fast drives along damp country roads. And your AE86 Levin is not finnished yet!

What's Your Summer Ride?

GOD FAQ

I was directed to the GOD FAQ website. I responed with a short e-mail.

User names

Some people say you have to be careful on the Internet. I have often used my real names, address, phone numbers, bank details etc. People are using funny usernames on the Internet. Why?

If you are on an e-mail list, forum or blog as a real person, how can you expect any friendship or respect if you use a name you don’t use face to face?

Most people are careful to not leave as many details floating around as I do, but what is the danger? I guess someone could come to my house, bashed me, and take the item they saw on ebay.

Women are often more afraid of strangers coming to their house. Is this justified?

What are your thoughts, why do you have a different user name?
Should I remove my details from the Internet?