buter's BABY blog

The internet is a fabulous place for finding info on the latest tech craze, why it's broken, where to get it fixed, or how to hack it yourself. One of the more popular sites to read about bleeding edge tech is Gizmodo ... not that I'm one of those 1337 h4x0rs what hang out there, but D™ has been known to send me links from it occasionally.

This post from a Gizmodo editor sums up why I don't frequent those sites much:

Stop buying products that serve any other master than you. Use older stuff that works. Make it yourself. Only buy new stuff from companies that have proven themselves good servants of their customers in the past. Complaining online about this stuff helps, but really, just stop buying it.

He goes on to say why "the market" is actually smarter than the early adopters - because "the market" is the mass of people who wait to see if something works before they buy it. Of course it's a bit circular, because without early adopters "the market" would be stuck, and without "the market", there would be nobody for the early adopters to thumb their noses at. (I know that's bad grammar, leave me alone).

Now I'm not much of an early tech adopter but I do read a lot of stuff on the Web - and my friends and family have been known to use my blog recommendations in their own surfing - so when I tell you that I've been following Giveaway Of The Day you will understand that to mean that I've been reading it for a few months now and decided now's the time to share.

A few days ago they offered an audio ripper/ CD maker piece of software. I believe the sell price was around US$20. For ages, I've been sort-of looking for something that will make a proper audio CD that will play in my car, from mp3 source files (from a CD that I promise I own, but have misplaced, and I happen to have the mp3s still hanging around). By sort-of looking I mean that I've not bothered to do any research at all, but since GOTD offered an audio specimen I decided to read about it and check out the feedback. So anyway they had this software, and I read about it and it seemed to do what I wanted it to. Then I read the comments. And this is the best part about GOTD - if you mine through the masses of "I don't want this" inane comments, you get some real gems of information that are actually useful. For this case, there were several mentions of other free softwares that would do the same, then about 3 or 4 (a high percentage, in other words) mentioned that your average CD/DVD software that came native on your average PC, or even Media Player would do this.

Woah. Media Player? Useful? Again? I'd already found that it was easy to create mp3s in Media Player as long as you mess with the default settings, but to reconvert back again? So I tried it. And it worked.

And that is why I added GOTD to my bloglines. Most of the time I don't want the software they are offering, but it's actually good to look through the comment threads if you're at all interested in the type of software on offer.

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Recently received in email:

A major flood hit the Campbelltown area on Sunday March 4 with its main disaster point being Queen Street, Campbelltown.

Victims were seen wandering around aimlessly, muttering "Faaackinell".

The flood decimated the area causing approximately $30 worth of damage.

Several priceless collections of mementos from the Macquarie Fields Riots were damaged beyond repair.

Three areas of historic burnt out cars were disturbed. Many locals were woken well before their Centrelink cheques arrived.

The Macarthur Advertiser reported that hundreds of residents were confused and bewildered and were still trying to come to terms with the fact that something interesting had happened in Campbelltown.

One resident - Tracy Sharon Smith, a 17 year-old mother of 5 said "It was such a shock, my little Chardonnay-Mercedes came running into my bedroom crying. My youngest two, Kevin and Jason,slept through it all."

Apparently looting, muggings and car crime were unaffected and carried on as normal.

The Australian Red Cross has so far managed to ship 4,000 crates of Bacardi-Breezers to the area to help the stricken locals.

Rescue workers are still searching through the rubble and have found large quantities of personal belongings, including Health Care Cards, Jewellery from Kmart and Bone China from Big W.

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

This appeal is to raise money for food and clothing parcels for those unfortunate enough to be caught up in this disaster.

Clothing is most sought after - items most needed include: baseball caps, tracksuits, singlets (blue & white) white sport socks, reebok boots Any other items usually sold in Go -Lo or The Reject Shop.

Food parcels may be harder to come by, but are needed all the same.

Required foodstuffs urgently needed include:
Microwave meals, Baked beans, Ice cream, Chips, Fizzy drinks.

Donations: $15.00 will be taken to buy a packet of winny blue 25s and a lighter to calm the nerves of those affected.

**Breaking news**
Campbelltown Uniting Church has cancelled their local "Nativity Display" due to their inability to find three wise men or a virgin.

The internet is a funny place ....

So the other day, I was merrily driving off to the stupormarket, or somewhere equally stimulating, when I saw a car for sale by the side of the road....



...

Well, I found it amusing anyway.

Yeah, I did it.

Nice to have a few hours to mess with the template, seeing as I'm home waiting till it's time to go to an appointment.

Reminds me of waiting to go to afternoon exams at uni. You never quite know when to leave, because you don't want to be late, but you don't want to be hanging around at uni for hours until the exam starts.

Oh well. Luckily futzing with my template has killed some time.

If you don't like it, suggest a different free template and I'll follow it up.