Rubenerd

Dominos Pizza Malaysia :D

As a (now) Mac OS X and BSD user I really don't use Windows anymore, but when I'm forced to I still use Windows 2000 Professional.

Windows XP looks like a toy (and behaves like one too) and frankly its just a pain in the ass disabling all the stupid visual effects. For the most part Mac OS X's visual effects are very well executed but in XP they're just hideous, not to mention the fact it chews up how much RAM sitting idol. Plus of course Windows 2000 is far more stable and reliable… I know saying those things and Windows in the same line is an oxymoron, but it's better than any other Windows offering Microsoft made in the past or since.

The rant ends there ;).

Anyway I've always been a bit dismayed that if I want to run Windows in Apple's Boot Camp using my MacBook Pro I had to use… Windows XP. Apparently though a guy in Japan has come up with a way to boot Windows 2000; and all it involves is moving NTDETECT from the XP to the 2000 CD amongst other things. I'm going to check it out.

Japanese guy with handle name “intelmacmini” reported his successfull
installation of Windows2000 on Intel MacMini in his blog (japanese).
( http://intelmacminiw2k.blog64.fc2.co…ry-1.html#more )

In his report, he made installation CD similar to the one used in XOM. However, I found that you can install Windows 2000 on Intel Macmini if you replace NTDETECT.COM file in Windows 2000 install CD with NTDETECT.COM file in Windows XP install CD.

Another critical step is to press F5 key when ” Press F6 in you need to ….” is displayed. Press F5 key , not F6.

Then you should choose “Advanced Configuration and Power Interface(ACPI) PC”. Then you can go through installation process to the end.

OnMac.net: Windows 2000 Install SUCCESS!

Another one of those "why didn't I think of that?" things:

First introduced last year, the Tweel sports a flexible spoke/wheel design that replaces the need for air pressure, deforming to absorb shocks. See it in action after the jump.

“…vertical stiffness (which primarily affects ride comfort) and lateral stiffness (which affects handling and cornering) can both be optimised, pushing the performance envelope in these applications and enabling new performances not possible for current inflated tires.”

~ Techeblog: Muchelin’s Airless Tires

Our Starbucks is better than yours: keeping our cities distinctive
Author: Peter Spearritt
Date: 19 April 2006

Tourists are becoming more discerning and demanding about what makes a holiday destination desirable. Yet many developments are making our cities more uniform and homogenous. Peter Spearritt considers some of the difficulties facing the tourist industry in Australia.

Read the full article…

And Kerry's rebuttal:

“… The more vibrant the economy of a city/town, the more likely it is to knock down its old buildings because they are a poor economic use of space and the more likely it is to attract McDonalds and Starbucks. A stagnant economy is actually what allows our history and “culture” to survive.

I suspect you can assess the economy of a town by seeing what phase of “homogeneity” has been achieved. First test: does it have a Coles or Woolworths? Second test: does it have a McDonalds? Third test: does it have a Starbucks?

So, while we might despair about the rise of homogeneity and the loss of historic buildings, the simple economic reality is that every time we drive to a large modern supermarket with its satellite chain stores surrounded by a large carpark to do our shopping (which almost all of us do), we are driving another nail into the coffin of historic buildings and our unique culture.”

It is by Caffeine alone that I set my mind in motion,
By the beans of Java, my thoughts acquire speed,
My hands acquire the shakes, the shakes are a warning,
It is by Caffeine alone that I set my mind in motion

~ evildrbob, MacOSXHints Forum

Now this is a great idea: auction off a Ducati 999 decked out with Aussie Socceroos colours and decals for charity.

I'd place a bid if it weren't for two critical problems: 1) that I don't have that much money, and 2) that I don't have a motorbike licence! But don't let me get in the way, bid and help people out.

You are bidding for the chance to own a very special machine – the Ducati Superbike 999, custom finished to celebrate the Socceroos 2006 World Cup campaign. Hailed by the press as the best Twin ever produced, the new 999 has proved to its riders its power to win on tracks around the world. A look under its fairing confirms the 999’s state-of-the art technology. Ducati’s goal was to create a Ducati Superbike of stunning design that improves rider ergonomics, makes maintenance easier, reduces complexity of the motorcycle and offers performance second to none. The aerodynamics, mechanical and electronic components, chassis and running gear were developed first and styling followed.

The 999 features a fully adjustable suspension system. Upside-down 43 mm Showa forks with low friction TiN treatment and a Showa rear shock provide a smooth ride on all road and track conditions. And even more, the 999 is equipped with a new aluminium alloy rear swing-arm, like that on the 999 Factory racebike.

This auction will be run in conjunction with The 2006 Bandage Bear benefit night on August 19th. The night helps to support Illawarra Kids with Disabilities as well as cancer research at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead.

eBay.com.au: Socceroo Ducati 999

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10:00 – MadPlayer troubles (lagtime, eating batteries), trapped aliens, Japanese living forever, food culture ("Westerners" can't take durian, "Asians" can't take aged cheese), Ruben accents rant (Americans, Kiwis, Aussies, how the accents evolve so damned fast?) and what ever happened to Dr. Marvin Monroe from the Simpsons?

Recorded in Adelaide, Australia. Licence for this track: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.5. Attribution: Ruben Schade.

Wow, this is big news.

US-UK Traffic Targeted

British police on Thursday said they had foiled a major terrorist plot to blow up several airplanes traveling from Britain to the United States with explosives smuggled in hand luggage. Multiple arrests have been made.

REUTERS
A policeman patrols Heathrow airport in London following threats of a terrorist attack on Thursday.
British Home Secretary John Reid said the threat posed by the plot to “bring down a number of aircraft through mid-flight explosions” would have caused “a considerable loss of life.” The would-be attackers had targeted as many as 10 planes and were apparently close to carrying out their plan.
“The police believe the alleged plot was a very significant one indeed,” Reid said. “At 2 a.m. this morning the Joint Terrorism Analysis Center raised the UK threat state to its highest level critical.”

Reuters reported that police had taken at least 15 people into custody in London after a major anti-terrorist operation lasting several months. The suspects apparently wanted to use some sort of liquid chemical devices to cause explosions.

“We don’t think that it was planned to happen today,” a police source told told Reuters. “We had intelligence and we had to move against what was a planned attack. The plan was to take a ready-made explosive device rather than something which would be made up on board.”

The incident has created havoc at Britain’s major airports, as the authorities are forbidding passengers from taking almost any hand luggage onboard.

Electronic items like laptops, mobile phones and iPods were all coming in for particular scrutiny. The BBC reported that passengers were being giving transparent plastic bags for only the most essential items such as wallets and passports. Several flights going in and out of Britain were cancelled on Thursday and officials in the United States also raised the security threat level for commercial aircraft.

Increased threat level

US Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said the threat level for commercial flights originating in the United Kingdom would be raised to an unprecedented “severe” level or color-coded red.

“Currently, there is no indication … of plotting within the United States,” Chertoff said. “We believe that these arrests have significantly disrupted the threat, but we cannot be sure that the threat has been entirely eliminated or the plot completely thwarted.”

From television advertisement:

“Now there’s an easy way to look after your cat’s teeth, all you have to do is feed him!”

What, I can't have a female cat? Ah wait as I typed that I figured it out ;).

Podcast: Play in new window · Download

10:00 – Listener email (Eugene on the cute girl in Starbucks), another John Howard Joke (the Bonsai, what's your IQ?), using Gizmo (username: rubenerd), listener audio (Felix Tanjono, coming up with idea for the Rubenerd Show), playing My Cubicle (hilarious parody of James Blunt's "You're Beautiful"), and Ruben trying out "singing".

Recorded in Adelaide, Australia. Licence for this track: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.5. Attribution: Ruben Schade.