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Before & During the Brisbane Floods

The ABC has just put up a series of before and during photos of the floods [^] that recently struck Brisbane, the capital of Queensland.

The photos really bring home how widespread the flooding really was. It’s shocking to see some areas Brisbane that I am familiar with under water; and we can’t begin to understand what it is like for Queenslanders.

Our thoughts go out to all of those people that have to live with and clean-up the effects of this disaster. But there is something that you can do: donate to the Queensland Premier’s Disaster Relief Appeal [^].

Brisbane Southbank - 2011 Flood

Is the Commodore 64 on the Comeback Trail?

I saw this just before Christmas – there are plans to launch a computer capable of loading both Windows and the 8-bit Commodore 64 operating systems [^]. Now for the really cool bit! The whole package comes packed into the classic mid1980s designed C=64 case.

Commodore64-small

Also in Windows you will still be able to play your favourite C=64 games as it comes with a Windows C=64 emulator. All in all, that means that you can play Dynamite Dan, Leisure Suit Larry, and Manic Miner until your heart’s content, and pretend to do something productive at the same time.

The new PC is powered by an Intel Atom processor, 2Gb RAM comes with DVD drive and is able to read most common memory card. A distinct improvement on the 1MHz MOA 6510 CPU, 64kb RAM and separate cassette tape storage. That means no more having to wait for some dodgy cassette tape to load in an ear-splitting cacophony, and die at the last minute. Ah, the good old days.

Of course a Google will get you a C=64 emulator for download for a normal PC, but you will have to find and hack your own case.

Celebrity Interviews

It’s always nice to find out a bit about the things that go on behind the scenes. Lateline’s Leigh Sales does just that in her blog – Well read-head.  In “Getting stars off message in interviews [^]“, Leigh talks about the negotiation that went on on- and off-screen to secure an interview with ex-British Prime Minister, Tony Blair.

As everyone suspects, it’s a case of juggling the interviewers search for material for their audience and the interviewee’s need to “advertise” their product; in Mr Blair’s case the “Tony Blair Faith Foundation”. I guess that the trick is to manage it all in such a way that it is still informative and pallatable to your audience.

One situation where that has gone horribly wrong of course is Michael Parkinsons interview with Meg Ryan [^] – that ended-up just above name-calling and hair-pulling. Another was Tom Cruise’s “Put your manners back in [^]” (whatever that is supposed to mean) interview with Peter Overton, that Leigh mentions. It just goes to show what a delicate balance an interview can be; an overreaction on either side can end up with the interview being a right schmozzle. Ah well, someone has got to keep the bloopers shows running!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWEdi4uf7Eo

9 Ideas of About the Internet

The Internet is one of those things that we take for granted. We do not even consider how this apparently limitless supply of information and distractions reaches our computers. Fifteen years ago a dial-up was a marvel, now we have broadband and wireless internet; and we expect it.

A funny thing happened to us on the way to the future. The internet went from being something exotic to being boring utility, like mains electricity or running water – and we never really noticed.
John Naughton: “The internet: Everything you ever need to know[^]

John Naughton in The Observer explains 9 key things about the internet that everyone should know. From the difference between web and the net, to the internet’s ability to disrupt technology, existing business models, and even laws, and the long-term effects of any revolution. This should be compulsory reading for anyone who expresses an opinion about the internet.

Internet things to know

Ginger Persons

As if we needed any proof that the political correctness movement had gone a little bit overboard, I bring you “ginger persons”.

Ginger persons

Mind you, I’m surprised that anyone is allowed to discriminate against red-headed people like this!

Photo Credit: Life in Dubai blog [^]