Jan 21 2010
Jan 20 2010
Jan 19 2010
Jan 14 2010
Jan 14 2010
Not in Australia (yet), but I’m really hoping it’s only a matter of time before Netflix gets in on the act locally:
It’s a triple crown for Netflix. Beginning in the spring, the Wii will become the last of the three current video game consoles to get instant viewing of Netflix movies and TV shows over the Internet.
Wii owners who have a broadband connection and a Netflix subscription that costs at least $9 a month will be able to watch those programs with no extra charge.
Nintendo Co. and Netflix Inc., which wouldn’t give an exact launch date for the service, were set to announce the deal on Wednesday.
My take: They already have Netflix streaming on PS3 and Xbox over there, so it was only a matter of time before it got on the Wii. And the Wii is lower cost and has a far bigger install base, so this is big. But alas, no Netflix like service exists in Australia yet (and don’t say Bigpond movies: $10-20 a month to stream all you like? Not in Telstra’s lifetime), so we will wait a little longer I think.
But it’s rumoured that Netflix or someone similar will setup a real service of that nature here soon (all they really need are servers here, plus some rights issues), so it likely should happen soon. There’s a lot of rumours about the TV landscape changing here this year, so let’s keep watching…
Jan 08 2010
Jan 06 2010
Jan 02 2010
It’s always the time of the year to think about this thing, as we’re constantly reminded in all media… along with the constant reminder that we mostly never follow through with these things. So just for the record, here’s what I’d like to do more of this year:
– Writing. Well duh, of course. I did pretty well with it last year, but I just want to keep up my consistency. There’s at least two books I could write this year that I already have in mind.
– Revising, editing and improving the above. This one is probably more important, as it’s something I’m less familiar with and less at ease with. I have to apply what I know to revise what I’ve already done. Fix it. Make it better. Improve it. On every level I can find. And this includes getting involved with writing groups and getting other people to help me revise. Which leads to…
– Getting a publishing deal. This one is harder, of course, and it’s not exactly in my control, but I must resolve to do everything in my power to make this happen (usually just lots of the previous two points). And that’s a deal, not necessarily publication, because you can never control the timing of that.
– More physical activity. Might depend on where I live of course, but there’s always something. And a team sport would be better, to inject something more social. Golf would be good too. Get better fitness, eat well.
– Group creative collaboration. This is really vague, but I’m thinking something creative with a group of people would be good. Done a little of this years ago, but would lke to get back to it, and it would most likely be online. Could be gaming, animation, writing, film, comics or something else. Really, the social aspect is as important as whatever the project is. Gettting to know other creative people again and all that.
– Business. Whether it’s IT repairs/help/online freelancing, or a secondhand bookshop, or a combination of both, I want to get that going this year (yes, that would be in Coona in all likelihood). This is really regardless of my main job aspirations there. It will be easier to start slowly if I have the day job, and if I don’t and go for this, well it will just have to be all out then, won’t it?
– Being active in the town. If as is most likely, we’re all in Coona within a month or two, I want to be active in the town. Groups, activities, events. Good for me, good for the family. Good for business above too. And just fun and social at the same time.
– Make stuff. Do more woodworking — all kinds of stuff big and small. Get into some of the electronics things I want to do. MAME cabinets, home theatre PCs, other gadgetry. Build my electric guitar (and then more!) Amp, speakers too? Business or fun, it doesn’t matter, just do it.
– Cooking and foodie stuff. Well, we cook to eat, so just more variety there, but what about more? Ginger beer, beer brewing (try what I made!), other soft drink, other produce. Get Sallie in the garden (and join her?!?), grow stuff. Fun or business, but there’s always possibilities.
– Family. Honestly, I think I’m doing pretty well there. Keep up the time with Will and Alex, give Lachlan more time as he gets bigger and more aware, and just make family the most important thing, despite all the above. Make Will’s school the best it can be for him.
That really covers it all I think. Ten points. That’s quite enough really
Jan 02 2010
Well, at least Lachlan has been enjoying himself up here:
(And no, he doesn’t have the red eyes usually! Just caught short without any red-eye cleanup right now!)
Jan 02 2010
This is a house at Fingal Bay, that we’ve seen while driving past for a few years now. It’s blue, wood/hardiplank covered, big, probably some kind of kit home, but it has such a nice look. At least three bedrooms, maybe more, and it’s over three levels without looking at it. I snapped a pic of it in the pouring rain, and you can’t even see the double garage in the bottom left, which is both handy and does well to hide it (the big garage doors never look that good at the very front). The property slopes down from the front, but you could landscape that, or leave it flat anyway.
This is the place: (so much rain!)
It’s cottage like, but modern as well, and it would work just as well in the country as it does by the beach. Doubt it’s even that expensive really, which is another appealing point.
Would like to find out more about the design and other relevant info. Very nice!
UPDATE: And then I discovered this property was either for sale or lease recently… and had pics online. Here’s what the place looks like on a nice day:
Now that’s more like it