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January 31st, 2010
12:43 am - MIV2012
I might as well publish this here now that it's official! After much soul searching and talking, I have decided to run for Convenor of MIV 2012.
A couple of years ago, Kate and I were considering "moving on" from IV, but our experiences in Hobart and again in Canberra have shown us just how much we love the IV movement and the experience of IV.
The Convenor needs to be somebody who can work with all the choirs and who knows the IV movement and what it means to its participants.
I'm not going to write a platform speech here but I believe I am the best candidate with all the required qualities in the Melbourne choir scene at the moment, and I'm willing to make the commitment to see this through.
The steering committee has posted dates for the election and pre-election-party[tm]
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January 29th, 2010
10:02 pm - Because I only ever post memes these days...
Your rainbow is strongly shaded green and red. What is says about you: You are an intelligent person. You appreciate energetic people. Those around you admire your fresh outlook and vitality. You get bored easily and want friends who will keep up with you. Find the colors of your rainbow at spacefem.com.
Yep, for sure :)
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January 3rd, 2009
07:14 pm - silly meme
In 2009,  brong resolves to... Be nicer to heliumbreath. Get back in contact with some old monucs. Overcome my secret fear of mawaridis. Spend more time with my saralonde24s. Tell my family about priestbeasts. Cut down to ten brongs a day.
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November 17th, 2008
12:23 pm - Book Meme
Open the nearest book to page 56.
Write out the fifth sentence on that page, and also the next two to five sentences.
The CLOSEST BOOK, NOT YOUR FAVORITE, OR MOST INTELLECTUAL!
The fleet captain said finally: "That will do. Everybody's too worked up to think. Debate is adjourned for four duty periods, sixteen hours. Discuss the problem with your shipmates, get some sleep, and report the consensus at the next meeting".
"Sixteen hours?" yelped someone. "Do you know how much return time that adds?"
"You heard me" said Coffin. "Anyone who wants to argue may do so from the brig. Dismissed!"
Orbit Unlimited - Poul Anderson. I read it a few of weeks ago, and it wound up on top of my box-o-junk when we moved, so it won "closest".
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September 21st, 2008
01:59 pm - photo meme
Instructions:
Take a picture of yourself right now.
Don't change your clothes, don't fix your hair - just take a picture.
Post that picture with NO editing.
Post these instructions with the picture.
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September 9th, 2008
02:51 pm - Timewaster
I blame Richard:
http://fantasticcontraption.com/
Arrgh... it's so distracting
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September 7th, 2008
06:04 pm - For want of a 10c part...
So I've been messing around with things that involved turning off the electricity to the house temporarily. I shut down all the computers and then cut the power. All fine.
Unfortunately, when I switched it back on, the surge of other appliances starting up must have killed our DVD player, a Pioneer DV-355K. This was Choice's number one recommendation back when we bought it, and has served us well both here and in the US.
So I looked on Ebay and found one in a few days, bid on it, and then kept googling around to see if there was _anything_ at all about this model and power issues. I found there was a notification about it from Pioneer that I could buy for US$7.50 from some dodgy site, but otherwise had great difficulty finding anything. Wasted a good part of the day that I should have been doing better things...
... but finally I found this: http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=49806
CAUSE -- Resistor R74 on the power supply unit is opened.
So I pulled out a multimeter that I had handy (actually, I'd already unpacked it. Bought it years ago and had never used it, but it was handy for checking the fuse) and tested. Yep, open circuit.
The resistor is a 2M2 - looked like about 1/8 watt by its size. Tiny.
The inside of the DVD player is mostly empty - just the power supply board, the main system board and the drive unit in the middle. There's heaps of space.
So I went to Dick Smith and spent 10c on a 1 watt 2M2 resistor. Huge. It's sticking up way above the board, and vertically rather than horizontally mounted. Still - the DVD player is working again, and it only took 10c of parts, probably somewhat more than that in fuel to get, and about 5 minutes work - most of which was waiting for the soldering iron to heat up!
I'm rather proud of myself... but hoping I don't win the Ebay auction now, because I don't need 2 of these things...
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August 28th, 2008
09:23 pm - Fitness First release week
Monday and Tuesday are "new class release" days at Fitness First in Bourke St.
They've been sick of not many people showing up because they're worried about being pressured to join, so they've promised that if you come along they won't hassle you. Besides, if you come at lunchtime my friend Robin will be there, and she'll wave us through I'm sure :)
I'll be doing Body Pump at 12:30 on Monday and Body Combat at 12:30 on Tuesday. They're 45 minute classes. There's also another Pump straight after the Combat, and I'd stay if anyone will come and do it with me!
So - let me know. If you want to try out this stuff I rave about, now's a good time. You'll need:
* good shoes - runners or cross trainers. Especially for Combat. Pump they don't need to be quite so fancy because there's not much foot movement, but they need to have good stability still.
* comfortable exercise clothes - you'll be getting pretty warm!
* a water bottle
* a towel
All the other equipment for the class is there (including soft blue mats at Bourke St - they rock) and the instructors are used to having new people and are great at letting you know what to do. Besides, I know just about everything there is to know about those two classes :)
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August 26th, 2008
12:31 pm - Computing Skills - Take 2
So ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) cuddlefairy asked last week - "what do you think are the 5 most important computing skills for a child to coming out of school".
After a bunch of discussion in that thread, and at home, and at camp... here's the revised list as decided by me. Usual disclaimers apply.
- How Computers Work - how to switch them on and off. That cables need to be plugged in or wireless services need to have a working association between endpoints. Operating a mouse. Using a keyboard (including typing - at least knowing touch-typing exists even if not proficient) The other stuff is all built on this. Also things like menu bars, right mouse button context menus. The standard interface components on which human-computer interaction is built.
- Word Processing - including creating documents, basic layout and printing
- File Management - saving files into folders. Finding them again. Copying them between folders and between devices. Keeping track of which version is the "current" one you're working on (even just "My Doc v1, My Doc v2, ...") I still think this rates separate mention. Especially when you have a copy on a USB stick, a copy at home, a copy in your folder at school and a couple of different copies in emails you've been sending around. You need to be able to know which one is most recent somehow. It's a tricky one to teach/test for though.
- Internet Communications (including Safety / Privacy) - controlling the spread of your personal information. Use of email/instant messaging/blogs. Knowing what's appropriate in what context. Not opening viruses!
- Programming - dammit. I got a lot of push-back on this one. "they don't need it yet". It's like an english class teaching kids how to read but not how to write. "You will be a passive consumer of text-based product". Ho hum. Teach them to create while they can still learn. They can learn to consume any time - everyone else in the world is happy to push that.
EDIT TO ADD:
Programming - I'm thinking things like:
* Logo
* Squeak
* ... etc
EDIT - first point was this before... rewrote it.
- Basic IO - operating a mouse. Typing (including at least knowing that there's a standard finger positioning, even if they aren't using it consistently. Don't bother with Dvorak at this stage - I'm looking at you here cuddlefairy - QWERTY has won for the moment). How to turn computers on and off. The other stuff is all built on this. Also things like menu bars, right mouse button context menus. The standard interface components on which human-computer interaction is built.
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August 20th, 2008
03:24 pm - Most important computing skills for a child to learn
So cuddlefairy asked at pub last night - "what do you think are the 5 most important computing skills for a child to have coming out of school".
subtle_eye and I discussed this backwards and forwards for a while. In the end we settled on the following list (in order of agreeing on them). Keep in mind that we're trying to be pretty technology agnostic here, so we're not saying "Microsoft Word" or "Open Office" or "Google Search".
- Word Processing - catchall covering being able to edit and format documents in a word processor.
- Internet Search - how to use the internet to find information. Probably how to blog soon enough too...
- Document Management - saving files into folders. Finding them again. Storing files on disks/USB keys. Keeping track of which version is the "current" one you're working on (even just "My Doc v1, My Doc v2, ...")
- Basic programming concepts - macros in spreadsheets, etc. Maybe logo. Something along the lines of "give the computer a set of instructions and let it execute them rather than doing everything by hand". We both agree this is one of the most important points. Get kids while they're young and imprint the idea that they can make the computer do repetitive tasks for them rather than doing the same thing over and over physically.
- Multi-media skills[tm] - at least basic image manipulation. Digital photos. There'll be more of that in the future.
What do you think? Have we missed anything important? Is there anything you don't think belongs?
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July 31st, 2008
July 28th, 2008
10:21 pm - Video camera and tripod
So it appears I need to borrow a video camera and tripod in the near future. The main point of this post being a random "does anyone have something like that I could borrow".
Part of my Body Pump training is a video assessment. Basically, I teach an entire class with a video camera set up such that:
a) My entire body is visible (they want to see everything from foot placement to smile)
b) At least a couple of my participants are visible (they want to see that people can follow what I'm saying)
c) Both the music and what I'm saying are distinctly audible.
Once I do the video - that's it! I've got my first aid qualifications now, and I've done all the other training. Of course, I do have to _pass_ the video assessment, and that's pretty scary. Especially since my friend Robyn who is excellent has just failed her first attempt :( Scary stuff. She's a lot happier about it this week than she was last week though, and has fixed up lots of issues...
OK - back to the assessment.
I have to provide the end result on DVD or VHS (eew, VHS). That's not a problem - I have tools to convert pretty much whatever format into a DVD.
Quality - it doesn't have to be the fanciest piece of equipment in the world, but it does have to have a battery that can keep going for a full hour and media that can record for that time period as well.
When? The main chance I have to teach a full class is Thursday evenings at Monash. The classes I've been doing in the city are the 45 minute format, and that's not permitted - it has to be the full hour class. Ideally I would record a test run this week or next week, then spend some time looking over it, get another instructor to help me go through it and fix up any issues, then run the real thing a week later.
Obviously, I'd only need the camera for those two evenings, and am willing to do whatever picking up and dropping off is required.
Ta in advance and all that :)
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July 25th, 2008
July 16th, 2008
09:27 pm - First Aid Training
Did my First Aid training today. I need it for my Body Pump training, you need to have up-to-date first aid.
I've done First Aid training before - first in 1999 for White Water Rafting, then more recently a kids focussed course.
The White Water Rafting course was a couple of very solid days. Even though it was officially a standard Level 2 First-Aid course, we spent a lot more time than usual dealing with long-term management, since a typical situation might involve being days away from emergency services, no contact with the outside world and everything soaking wet.
Still - there was a lot to remember. Making donut bandages, different counts for different ages with CPR.
Even the kids course a few years ago we still had donut bandages and CPR counts different depending on their ages.
Today's course - so much has changed! For a start, it was only a single day course for the full Level 2 First-Aid. It's called FastTrack. http://stjohnvic.com.au/pdfs/course_snr_fasttrack.pdf
First you get sent a link to a website where you pre-learn all the theoretical things you need to know.
http://e-learning.stjohn.org.au/
It's all available logged in as "Guest", so anyone can go in to the Senior First Aid section and view the application if they want to check up anything about First Aid. It's a Flash app that steps you slowly through all the information that's needed for the actual practical day.
The best bit is - they've radically simplified it. DRABC is now DRABCD - defibrillators are available a lot more, and they are "smart" - can pretty much run a CPR via a human - just switch it on, paste it to the body and follow the voice prompts. It "listens" to the heart and decides when it needs you to stop doing CPR and let it give a shock (you have to press a button for that to say you're not touching the body).
Speaking of which, CPR counts are now simple too. 30 pumps and 2 breaths. No matter what size the person, you just adjust the pressure of both to match the size of the person.
Why? Largely because people stand around trying to remember exact counts rather than getting on with it!
Donuts made out of triangular bandages? Out. Takes too long to make, and saying "have one premade in your kit" - what if the wound isn't the right size? By the time you've oh-so-cleverly made one up, the ambulance has already arrived.
It's a welcome relief. I'll be able to remember it this time!
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March 14th, 2008
08:07 pm - Fresher Day
So I appear to have lost my bullsheet telling me where and when Fresher Day is on Sunday.
Anyone know?
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01:06 pm - Linky link
Ok - so I never post, but I figured this link was worth posting:
http://groups.google.com.au/group/melb.general/msg/c7f6095edf5f8c10
Pretty much sums up why I don't like paying for tea when I'm out, even though I drink it about as much as coffee regularly.
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January 14th, 2008
09:57 pm - First really hard day's work!
We only dropped one tree today. It was huge. About one and a half chainsaw widths at the base. Lenny came out with us again, and I had two people spotting and I wedged early and well. Even still, it came down about 20 degrees off the line I wanted, and totally knocked over a nice blackwood tree - pulled it out of the ground. Hopefully we can get a sawlog out of it.
I'm still counting this as a mostly success - it fell pretty much the right direction and was fully accessible from the road. We took three full loads, and it was really good, solid, _heavy_ wood. Lenny now has his full year's supply, and we've filled over half the next bay.
I was totally worn out at the end, but have sprung back pretty quickly. They gym work is really paying off!
Annie and the girls have been building kites, which they're all really enjoying. Miss E came out with me this morning and helped with watching while I got everything ready, moved the truck around, started unloading the wood, etc - then came to the garden with me to watch me do some jobs down there.
They've both come out to help move wood over to be stacked. It's great how much they can help with here, though I haven't let them come down into the bush with me - it's just too dangerous around the chainsaws.
Well - 4 more days of this and then I'm off to IV. It's all so soon! Leaving crazily late thanks to the flight times being changed - still, 8:40pm is good from a "let me get a good day's work in first" perspective!
I'm getting pretty excited about IV being so soon - though a bit sad that I've had such a short time here. Haven't had a chance to do any socialising around the valley apart from seeing people through the work I've been doing here. I'm just disappointed I took myself out of action for so long by being sunburned.
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January 13th, 2008
11:01 pm - Firewood day
Quick post today. Split up the firewood this morning, then got a crew together and dropped a tree. Did it properly this time. Perfect alignment, minimal damage (ok, I munted a blackwood a bit, but there was no choice, and it will recover fine, just a few branches hit, no trunk damage)
Second load this afternoon the tree tipped back sooner than expected and caught the blade again - had to pull apart the saw and cut it with an axe. Really hard work - had to axe out a lot before I could take it down. It fell backwards but luckily there was a clear run back that way - didn't even hit any treeferns!
So two loads of wood in, split and stacked. Pretty solid day's work. My score for dropping trees is still pretty dodgy, two bad, one good. Hoping to improve that tomorrow with another 2 good!
Arms are really tired - it's hard work - less intense that the heavy weights at the gym, but much more endurance. Hundreds of reps with minimal breaks.
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January 12th, 2008
10:51 pm - Back to work again, and no more speedy
So after the sore back stuff, I took a couple of days rest. Bart with his bad back, me with my sunburn, nobody else here. We just took it easy for a couple of days. Arana and Nick got home from the park (Arana is my sister, Nick is her boyfriend. At the moment he's working as a ranger in Cradle Mountain national park. She's also been a ranger up there before. She went up to keep him company). They came swimming with us, and took both girls for rides on their kayaks, which was great fun for them!
Bart went in to see a chiropractor for his back on Thursday, and came back with swimming rings for the girls, but I haven't had a chance to test them yet.
Anyway, Friday we finally got moving again. I split up the firewood in the morning. The girls were great helpers, loading the wood (once I'd split - they had to stand right back while I was using the axe) into a wheelbarrow and then unloading it at the other end. I was very proud of them. Speedy also came and pecked up the little bugs I found inside some of the rounds of wood.
In the afternoon we strung up wires to protect the berry area. It will be giant bird-netting cage, maybe 3 metres high by 15 by 40 or so, with a dogleg on one side to avoid some big fruit trees. Massive project! We put up a few wires then realised we needed to make some more poles and put it away for the day, had a very lazy rest of the afternoon.
Today we went back to the garden in the morning and put up most of the rest of the poles. Della was a good helper carrying things around, and also digging some of the holes. She would take off her hat and glasses and get Nick to hold her by the legs and lower her into the hole, where she would grab a handful of dirt. He then lifted her out and off to one side where she would drop it. I think they did about 15 of them all up! Della was laughing and having a great time!
I mixed the cement (well, loaded the mixer - mixing by hand is way too slow) to put the poles in. I wish I had a camera on me to show some of these things!
Afterwards I dragged Bart down to check out my stuck tree. We put a chain around the base and dragged it until it fell over. Unfortunately the chainsaw was really blunt due to someone hitting a rock - not sure who, but the damage on the teeth was pretty obvious, so we went home for lunch.
I spent a pretty frustrated couple of hours waiting for lunch to happen, eventually cooking it myself. Things are very slow around here sometimes. We finally ate about 4pm. That's not massively unusual. Afterwards, I got a crew together and finally got back to pick up that fallen tree. With two chainsaws, we made great time, and even went back for a second tree.
Also, when we got back, Larus (my little brother) was finally home. He was excited to see me for about 5 seconds until I said "great, you can come and help load!". He did though. We got the second load on nice and quickly, because we ran out of fuel half way through - but I'm glad because it gave me some good time with the kids, giving them dinner and tucking them in to bed.
There was also time to pinch 5 litres of petrol out of one of the cars and make up another can of 2stroke, so I'm all set to do another few loads of wood tomorrow while Bart's out doing a job. They don't need me for this one, just a bit of wiring and getting to know the site - not much point me learning it since I won't be around to do the rest of the job anyway.
So yeah, I'm back at work now. Tomorrow's going to be pretty busy, with a bit more work in the garden (I also did some brushcutting down there under a peach tree laden with peaches. Mmm.. knocked a couple off while I was working, and they're nearly ripe and very yum.) - lots more tree carting and maybe some fencing with the sisters up on their property.
I think Melody should be home tomorrow as well, so we might actually have the whole family here for a day (Larus is back to work on Monday - he works on a dairy farm at the moment) then Elyse is back on Wednesday. Pretty rapid turnover here - a couple of days after I leave another 4 or 5 wwoofers are coming in. It's an ever-changing household here.
Oh yeah, Speedy. Today it (he, Elyse assures us, and being a vet she supposedly knows these things) disappeared. We're not entirely sure where, but after this long we're pretty sure a predator must have caught it. Very sad. Everyone is missing the chirpy little critter.
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January 10th, 2008
03:14 pm - Tradie day
So the night I got killed by my sunburn was after a day being a Tradie.
The day started early with the arrival of Russell and Rob, neighbours who sometimes work with Bart on electrical jobs. They loaded the truck while Bart directed - being unable to actually do much work thanks to his freshly hurt back.
We drove out to the job, about 1/2 hour away. The plan was to install 6 solar panels and put the wiring in - though we couldn't finish everything because some of the wrong parts had been delivered over Christmas.
And I managed to leave my sunglasses behind as well, which was pretty stupid given that we were working on a roof. We scoped out the job and realised we needed to go home for some more bits anyway. We left Rob and Russell setting up what they could while I drove Bart home (borrowing his sunglasses) to get some more bits and pieces, then back again. This is driving on a pretty rough gravel road both ways.
In the end we only got 5 of the panels up because they hadn't shipped enough mounting posts either, but at least the job will be quicker next time.
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In totally unrelated news, just before we arrived, 6 chickens were born. The mother and three got eaten by a quoll within a couple of days. There were three chicks when we arrived. Two of them were taken by a hawk a couple of days later, so now there's just one. We call it "speedy". It cheeps ALL day, and is currently preening itself in the middle of my keyboard, causing typing to be somewhat slow and occasionally foot-hitting. It's also pecking away at my screen sometimes.
Speedy thinks it's a human, and follows us around everywhere. Yesterday there was a giant worm bigger than the chick which the girls were trying to feed it.
Thankfully, it's not heavy enough to type on these keys or this entry would be illegible!
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