Paul Stovell’s blog linked to this site: Spyk.

You’ll need to use Internet Explorer though, since it doesn’t support Firefox properly (I havn’t tried Opera yet).

Basicly its a web two-point-oh + Virtual Earth applied to Property Searching (Rent/Buy) for Australia.

I tried it in a bunch of different places in Australia, and it worked, so it’s obviously linked to a few nation wide databases (not just a single agency either, I saw domain and realestate.com.au listed, not sure about others).

Point, hover and it shows you pictures (if available), and some other details — apply some filters (Property Type, Price Range, Bedrooms, Bathrooms), great, it works. Very nice, very fast… Very very cool.

The only bug is Australian Postcodes aren’t recognised all the time - sometimes it takes you off to random parts of the US, other times it works fine (it might be a distance issue? i.e try within 100KM, else go global). That’s probably a Virtual Earth issue though.

(Last post for the night, honest)

As I mentioned before, I want to learn C#.

So, to that end I went and got myself O’Reilly’s Learning C# 2.0, 2nd Edition, and I’m making my way through it slowly.
I’m only a chapter or four in so far — I’m now certain that

public void Test() { }

is identical to

Public Sub Test()
End Sub

.

The whole case-sensitivity issue will be a problem for me though. Ohwell.

The past few weeks we’ve been having progressively warmer weather - and I’ve been keeping my bedroom windows wide open. Last night I even turned on the fan all night to keep the air flowing (I like it when it’s cool at night).

It’s also hard to miss other changes — like the number of hot women walking past my window at work, wearing uhh… well, lets just say less clothing.

Ian wrote last month on his blog about The Last Days of Summer in the UK.

Looks like the hand-over of summer has taken place…

We’re preparing for a very dry summer again - with the likelihood of a big bush fire season occurring.
There’s also a been a change to warmer water in the Equatorial Pacific Ocean, pointing towards an El Niño cycle*. Meaning floods and tornadoes in South America, and a worsening of the drought in Eastern Australia.

* = It hasn’t been declared El Niño yet, but it’s pointing that way.

Slashfood (not to be confused with Slashdot) is having a sandwich day.

They’re off to a roaring start with this artery hardening French Toast and Bacon Sandwich.

It looks like the US version of the McMuffins are different too — theirs is an Egg McMuffin, which has ham on it.

For any non-Aussie readers: The Australian Egg McMuffins come as one of Sausage & Egg McMuffin*, Bacon & Egg McMuffin, or just a regular old Egg McMuffin.

* = The “Sausage” component is really just a “spiced” burger patty… not a real sausage snag.

I disagree with their inclusion of the McMuffin and a Wrap in the sandwich category. See their definition of a Sandwich. To me, a sandwich is one or more pieces of bread with one or more fillings. (NB: In the case of using one piece of bread, it must be folded over the contents).

Eating with the hands is entirely optional - larger sandwiches may require structural support and a triple degree in engineering, biology and physics.

Wraps, Burgers, Muffins, Pita-Breads are all good - but they’re not a sandwich. Rolls are a borderline issue — they’re technically a single piece of bread. Oh, and things like melted cheese on toast are not sandwiches either… Unless you get two and uhh… sandwich ‘em together (or fold one in half).
Yes, it’s different… damnit!

in #dreamhost on irc.freenode.net tonight:

[00:07] <@MichaelS> how lame. verisign is implementing EPP for .com/.nets
[00:08] EPP?
[00:09] <@MichaelS> transfer auth codes
[00:09] ahh, I see
[00:09] and this is bad why?
[00:09] <@MichaelS> because it’s not fully required yet, and tucows happens to require it on their end, so transfers from/to DH to tucows aren’t working so well.
[00:10] <@MichaelS> tucows sez: PLZ2B GIVING AUTH CODE
[00:10] <@MichaelS> dreamhost sez: no auth code, dude!
[00:10] <@MichaelS> tucows sez: KBYE!
[00:10] <@MichaelS> that’s the technical description of what’s happening.

Good to know they’re on top of it

Sorry, Canon 1Ds-Mk II, you’ve been dumped for the hotter model.

Seitz have released a 160 megapixel (no, there’s no decimal place, that’s one-hundred-and-sixty) digital camera.

The only problem is, where the heck am I going to _fit_ this thing?
It’s so big you need two hands to hold it — and that’s just the body.

Go look at it now.

Paul sent me the link to this interesting looking IDE called Aptana (rhymes with Banana).

Those of us who use Visual Studio will find the screenshots somewhat familiar… infact, It looks practicly identical to Visual Studio 2005. (Whether or not they’re both copying someone earlier or not, I don’t know).

The really really cool things though are the introduction of Intellisense(tm)-like functionality to HTML, CSS and Javascript - plus document/function outlining, Script-documentation (for Javascript), and project management functionality.

Really cool. The only thing is - I’m probably never going to use it. I do too much .NET stuff.

Hey, Microsoft! You listening? You need to do this for Visual Studio. Oh, and while you’re at it - make VS faster.

I was given a freebie sample of the new Mountain Fresh Fruit Juices “Premium” Dark Grape & Apple Juice, by George from Civic Lunch Delights (my regular lunch destination).

Least I can do is give it a bit of a review

I’m a regular consumer of the Mountain Fresh juice line, so the new variety is good to see.

Like their other juice lines, this is presented in a dark green screw-top glass bottle, the only visible difference being the replacement of the cream-background and gold-coloured eding with a white-background label and gold foil edging

Again, like their other juice lines - this is made from fresh Australian fruit - not concentrate, pulp, or imported juices.

The ingredients should give an indication of how little they fiddle with their juices: 70% Dark Grape Juice. 29.9% Direct Pressed Apple Juice, Vitamin C (300).

The actual taste of the juice is quite pleasent - if you like those large dark seedless grapes you get at the supermarket, then this is for you. It’s not too sweet, and there’s a little hint of sharpness from the grape skin (or possibly the apple). The apple taste is pretty much drowned out by the Grape though (as should be evident by the ingredient mix).

Unlike some other juices out there which use Pear Juice as their base - this has a very clean taste. No particles or pulp is able to be felt, and it doesn’t leave much in the way of an after taste.

All in all - a very good product, living up to the Mountain Fresh standard.
My only suggestion would be for them to try a more tart apple for their juice. (possibly slightly unripe Granny Smiths, or a mix of Crab Apple and their regular apple juice)

Overall Rating: 8/10
Product: Mountain Fresh Juices Premium Dark Grape & Apple Juice.
Manufacturer: Mountain Fresh Fruit Juices
Price: (unknown - the other lines usually retail at AUD$3.20 for 400ml)

Watch this, tis funny.

Found these few links over the last little while, thought I should post them.

Giant image of Paragliders.

A bunch of good photography techniques and advice.