Australia Loves Toilet Paper More Than Deodorant!

I have been buying the same deodorant for the last 10 or so year, Lynx's Africa, and after they recently changed the scent to a 'new improved' scent, and also changed the packaging, I thought it was time to look for a new 'smell'.

So here I was standing in front of the deodorants in my local Woolworth's supermarket at Riverlink in Ipswich, trying to find a new smell for me, when I started to become frustrated.

I really didn't have much of a choice, in fact it was either Lynx or Rexona.

Does everyone in Australia really only smell of these few scents?

I then thought, "hang on, isn't there more toilet paper choices than deodorant choices?"

Does Australia really care more about what toilet paper we use to wipe our arse than what deodorant we use?

Judging by the amount of supermarket shelf space dedicated to each product, the asnwer ie Yes!

Australia Loves Toilet Paper More Than Deodorant!

Lost pigeon - 'mangy looking'

Upon leaving Brisbane's central train station today I have spotted
this sign for a missing pigeon.

Now as a bird and animal lover I feel it is my duty to get the word
out and help find the poor little 'mangy looking' pigeon.

I assume last seen in Brisbane, but could be anywhere by now.

Call 1800TEKNO1 if you have seen a grey and white pigeon with black bits and
it is a bit mangy looking.

Censorship Gone Mad

After reading in the newspaper today, and being shock that Ian Thorpe has a male 'friend', I was generally shock to hear about the Subiaco Library in Perth worried about offending people with the above photograph.

The photo by Nicole Boenig-McGrade titled 'Kids in Suburbia' was submitted earlier this month to the library for an exhibition, and was latter deemed to possibly cause offence, and then drop from the exhibition. 

It appears that last years outcry from Bill Henson's exhibition has strangely caused people to now worry that pictures of kids with out a shirt is offensive. 

I really hope that the person who made the decision has been counselled and made aware that this photograph is not offensive and not, as I assume the offence was perceived to be, pornographic.

Let's also hope that the impending internet censorship is not also going to censor Nicole Boenig-McGrade's website www.nicoleboenigmcgrade.com.

Now I'm must return to my 'Free to Air' TV so I can watch more violent Tv shows!

Molly the Cockatiel's Photo Shoot

Poor little 'Molly' was placed on the carpet the other day for a photo-shoot.

I through down a heap of sunflower seeds to keep her hunting the ground while the 'flashing' of my camera got her attention.

She looked up at me, thinking "what's he doing"

Molly my cockatiel talking and singing video.

Molly is my male cockatiel and second best friend, he is about 20 months old.

I first got Molly when he was about a month or so old, and he has been getting head scratches ever since.

As soon as I arrive home I am greeted with a 'Hello Molly' and he starts to whistle with excitement, and soon after Molly is on my shoulder and I'm asking about his day, and he asks about mine.

Molly also loves to talk and of course whistle, especially the Australian National Anthem.

Molly can say "Hello", "Hello Molly", "What are you doing", "Good Girl" (we thought Molly was a female for the first 6 months), She can also say "Bye Bye", and talk in gibberish, and also the other odd word.

I'm also occasionally hear 'Pretty Girl' although I have never taught him these words (maybe our ghost!)

Molly talks mostly when I show him new things, or glasses full of coke!

Every Sunday when I fold the washing Molly likes to teach me songs to whistle while he is on my shoulder, he will whistle a little bit and then look at me to repeat, and then he will add a little bit more and so on!

I made the below video of Molly to show a little of his character.

I hope you like it, and please rate the video and leave a comment.

The Revenge of the Galahs/Galahs strike back!

Over the last couple of months local cats have been terrorizing our birds, and we believe Vulture our late cockatiel has dies as a result of the stress that they have caused.

So today I was overjoyed to see an amazing sight.

I had just arrived home from work and was sitting inside when I heard either the sound of birds fighting or in distress.

I peaked outside my bedroom window and saw three Galah's with their wings extended and screeching. I grabbed my camera and raced outside for a great photo opportunity.

When I got outside I spotted a large group of about 15 Galah's screeching, wings extended and looking at the ground. Below them was two local cats looking up at them very concerned.

The noise was incredible and the sight of these birds taking turns screeching and menacing the cats was such a joy to see.

I checked the ground and bushes below as I was a little concerned there might have been an injured bird or nest below, but i found nothing.

I like to think that these Galah's joined together to create this menacing scene as revenge for the stress these cats have been putting our birds under.

Nature and it's animals are great, and what a perfect sign to see fellow parrots form together in unity to make a strong stand against the bully.

(More Pictures on my Flickr page - Click Here)

R.I.P Vulture the Cockatiel

Today was a sad day.

At 10.45am our 'outside' bird vulture passed away. Vulture was about 8 years old. Ben has had vulture for 6 years and I have known vulture for about a year and a half.

Vulture had a cage buddy 'Eagle (prince princess)' who is missing him frantically.
We suspect Vulture died from a few nights of stress. One night being terrorized by a cat and the next night a large hail storm pounding his cage.

After watching him quickly get weaker and weaker this morning, I found him dead after leaving him for just a few moments. It all happened so quick.
He was removed from his cage and now 'Eagle' was alone.

About half an hour after he passed I heard 'Vulture's song' and his familiar chatter again and quickly ran to his cage. I found Eagle singing out his song with one foot on a perch and the other on the front of the cage. Eagle was singing out and looking for Vulture, he looked really sad and frantic.
This was so sad to see.

Vulture was latter laid to rest in our backyard, he looked so peaceful laying in his grave before Ben filled it in.

"he was such a beautiful bird"

Can I Check Your Tickets Please?

Letter sent to Queensland Rail and the State Queensland Transport Minster:

5.07pm Central to Ipswich Saturday 12th January

My commute home from work today has left me full of anger and disillusionment.

It's four days into QR's fare evading blitz and again I found myself traveling home on the ipswich train surrounded by fumes from chroming (paint sniffing) and fare evaders.

I was on sitting in the end carriage near the connecting doors when a group of young teenagers entered from the other carriage and sat on the seats all around me bringing with them a strong smell of paint fumes.

Once they had settled into their seats I witnessed the familiar sight of their noses disappearing as they pulled their shirts over their faces so they could sniff paint from open bottles.

Not only does the strong smell of fumes bring on an instant headache but also I always feel slightly threatened being surround by a group of teenage kids openly in the act of doing drugs.

Unfortunately teenage kids on the Ipswich line between Wacol and Ipswich openly doing drugs is become an all too familiar sight on weekend, evening and late trains.

As the train pulled into Gailes station I was relieved to see two ticket inspectors on the platform about to board the train exactly where the kids and I were sitting.

When the 'kids' saw the ticket inspectors, and as the doors opened, two of them jumped off the train and started to run, one kid was grabbed by one inspector and stopped from jumping off the train and the others quickly ran into the connecting carriage, the 'kid' who was prevented from leaving the train then also ran into the connecting carriage.

I was them amazed as the two inspectors started to walk the opposite direction to the very end of the train allowing the kids to continue running through the carriages.

I then witnessed the inspectors check tickets of a group of people including a blind man and an two old lady's.

At this point I was completely in shock that not only had the inspectors prevented one child from leaving the train but also allowing them to escape into the other carriage without even trying to pursue the obvious fair evaders.

As the ticket inspector approached myself I stood up to pull my wallet from my back pocket and placed my bag onto the seat, I then greeted the inspector, Peter (badge number 139) and politely asked why he and his partner were checking tickets of an old lady, a blind man and my ticket when there are obviously ticket evaders and people doing drugs on the train.

Peter responded by saying "they are sniffing paint" and then also informed me that he had an obligation to inspect the other peoples tickets first and to ensure peoples safety.

Gobsmacked by the fact that he admitted that he was fully aware there were people doing drugs and fare evading and he still didn't seem concerned at all.

I then put it to Peter that I felt threatened by the group of teenagers doing drugs on the train.

Peters paused and looked at me, and then pointed to my bag on the seat and said "is that your bag?" and then "place it on the floor please"

I looked at him in total amazement and placed my bag on the floor, he then said "make a complaint" and walked into the next carriage while still checking every persons ticket he passed in a leisurely manner without any concern to the kids spreading their fumes and running from carriage to carriage.

The inspector had made me feel threatened and I'm sure he was looking for any excuse to give me a ticket for questioning his actions

I am in total disbelief that an QR inspector had admitted to knowing there were people on the train doing drugs and had not attempted to do anything about it, and in-fact walked the opposite direction.

I am in total disbelief that a QR inspector had pulled a child from the closing doors as he tried to escape, which I'm sure compromised the child's safety.

i am in total disbelief that there was no attempt to catch the people fair evading and instead casually inspected those of us doing the right thing.

I am also in total disbelief that a QR inspector was more concerned about my bag sitting on a seat.

As the inspector has invited me to complain I plan to do exactly that.

I would like QR to confirm if this inspector had followed protocol.

If he had not, then I would expect that QR and the inspector involved to unreservedly apologies to the people on the train that had to put up with these fumes, feel threatened by these people and watch as no action had taken place.

I would like the inspector involved also to explain to me why he did not take any action and why his main concern was my bag on the seat.

I would also like to know what steps will be taken and what action we can expect inspectors to do when they suspect chroming from a passenger or doing any other drugs.

If the inspector had correctly follow protocol can QR please confirm chroming is OK on the ipswich line?

Are children allowed to evade paying fares?

And if any passengers see any illegal activity why should they feel threatened by QR staff when bringing it to their attention?

I would call upon QR to view the video footage of this incident and to respond in full.

***********************************************************************************************************************************

A few weeks after my letter I received a phone call from a Mr Gert Zondervan from QR, he basically told me there was nothing they can do about kids chroming on the train as it was not illegal in Queensland.

Keep in mine food and drink is not illegal and QR can fine you for eating or drinking on the train!

I soon after received a written responce from the Office of the 'Minister for Transport...' signed by ;Policy Advisor' Robert Hough.

Click the below picture so you can read the response in full, and please leave your comments.

From Chaosboi

From Chaosboi

My iMac and Apple

After using PC's for years and years my good friend, and apple fan, Jacques talked me into purchasing my now loved black MacBook back in april 2006, but I still continued to use a PC for my Desktop.

In April 2007 I had decided I had spent enough of my life trying to make my PC work, and after seeing iMac's in the shops I took the plunge and became a 100% apple mac boy.

I purchase my loved 20" white iMac and I no longer spent anytime making things work, but rather enjoying a computer that worked.

Everything was working fine until December 2007 when my iPod would not sync and external drives would decided if they would mount or not.

I took my iMac into a local service centre and waited for it to be repaired.

After a couple of weeks, and replacing the logic board they couldn't find what had gone wrong, I contact apple direct and questioned the time frame that repairs would normally take. Apple were very shocked that I had been waiting two to three weeks and the service centre not having any clues to my machines cause of fault.

Apple decided to replace my white 20" iMac with a brand new 20" aluminum 2.4GHz  machine, and within a few days I have my new machine.

Two days latter I was having the same issue of my iPod not updating and external drives not mounting, I had killed a second machine :(

I was straight onto the phone to apple directly and after hours of trying different things that put the fault down to my Belkin 7 Port USB hub.

Apple was happy to replace my two day old replacement machine with another shinny new 20" 2.4GHz iMac, and within two days I had my third iMac within a year.

I now have a brand new machine that was only built two weeks ago and is purring along perfectly, oh, and I have torched the Belkin Hub.

I have never experienced such great customer service and speedy delivery of merchandise.

And I didn't even receive a refurbished machine, but a brand new boxed iMac.

It's annoying that it appears all of this time it was my Hub which killed two iMac's, but at least I now have an updated computer.

I'm sure most other companies would have said 'sorry, you killed it, it's not covered under warranty'

Or even would have offered a refurbished machine....Hi Nokia!!! Grrrrr.

This is another example of a great company that delivers great hardware, software and customer service.

Well done apple....oh....and thanks for my shinny new iMac.

I'm In Prison

Today was open day at the Brisbane Correctional Centre, and as I've always wanted to visit a Prison, I was excited like a child in a lollie shop!

I actually felt like I was in a movie set and not a real prison, as it's 'just like the movies'.

The centre is about to be re-opened after a refurb, so unfortunately there was no any prisoners locked in their cage that would could go and poke fun at.

As they hadn't moved the prisoners in, and it was very clean, I started to think about working in a Prison, it seems kind of exciting. 

I'm sure once the place is full of inmates their would be no stopping me from running out of their.

The view from the exercise yard sure looks better than the view from my current work place....hmmm....maybe this could be a good work environment!

From Chaosboi

From Chaosboi

From Chaosboi