Chillagoe

Drove to Chillagoe today (3 hours each way). Had to configure an ADSL connection, but problems cropped up when a certain Tel-co (who shall remain nameless) strangely wouldn’t tell me that I had been given the wrong username. They wouldn’t tell me straight the correct details unless I could tell them my employer’s ABN (which is one of the few numbers that I don’t know off the top of my head). I told them what company I work for, and I told them the (cryptic) username I had been given – they could have at least said, “No, that username is wrong,” even if they’re not allowed to tell me what the right one is. On top of that, they treated me like a moron over the phone because I didn’t access the right touch-tone menu system – because the phone was on an exchange that uses the old pulse dialling system! More than one way to skin a cat though, and I eventually got the right username, so the ‘troops’ in Chillagoe are happy.

Note to Telstra – um… I mean… anonymous phone company – telephone support staff: if a customer tells you a problem exists on all the computers on a network, don’t just say “Oh… um… duhhhh… um… We don’t support networks,” and proceed to suggest uninstalling TCP/IP on one of the computers in case it’s the problem. Even if you don’t “support” networks, you’re still allowed to “think”… especially when the problem is that you won’t tell me I’ve been given the wrong username!

Sydney psychos

What the HELL is going on in Sydney at the moment? What’s with these people inciting racist violence? It sounds like these people have too much free time and a chip on their shoulder. Not to mention plenty of money to spend on their text messages. What’s the deal? How do these people imagine that they are any better than, or even as good as, the people they are marginalising? Why are they afraid of people of other races? They’re the ones committing the crimes. They should wake up and realise that they are part of the problem, not the solution.

The Meatrix

After watching The Meatrix a couple of days ago, I tried to make a bit of an effort at lunch today. I was going so well… ordered a nice healthy salad… when the lady at the café asked if I wanted chicken in it. Suffice to say I folded under the intense pressure. I just can’t do it cold-turkey… mmmm turkey.

If you don’t understand what I’m going on about, click the link.

Yesterday was a great day. 4 hours of driving, mostly in the lovely North Queensland countryside – and I was getting paid for it! Most people where I work crank the air-con on full as soon as they get in the car no matter what the weather is like. I put up with air-conditioning in the office most of the time, so when I get to escape the office for a day, I’ll take fresh air thanks.

Office Christmas lunch

Had an office Christmas party today with a buffet lunch. Did the ‘Secret Santa’ thing. I was quite proud of myself that I had sufficiently disguised the character of the gift I gave so that no-one could determine what I gave to who. (And to think that no-one will probably ever realise just how long it took to line that nice little box with pretty paper with my complete lack of creative ability.) Rather than heading back to the office as planned (as if), I lingered for a coffee with a few others from the office, at the invitation of our manager. Naturally, we came up with a pseudo-religion centring around chewing gum – The Brotherhood of Guar. (Yes, guar gum is not used in the manufacture of chewing gum, but that just adds to the mystery.) If anyone ever spits chewing gum in your hair and yells “Infidel!” at you, know that you have had a great honour bestowed upon you! While discussing this and other ‘important’ subjects at length, it seemed appropriate to move onto some drinks with a bit more kick until we went our separate ways to forage for food.