Opinionated news exctraction for all by that geeky accountant type guy...

Tuesday, August 31

newsonline.com.au

newsonline.com.au is a news site with decent Queensland coverage which means its now easier to see what's happening in the smart state. It also has mining (and rural) news which would be helpful if, say for instance you needed information on that sector because you are looking for employment...

Sunday, August 29

Manly advice

For the SharpMan. The guides are a bit like the ones at askmen.com but less frequent, but still a sizeable database of work and proberly a lot more useful as they aren't pushing specific products.

Saturday, August 28

Common Myths about Accounting

The Best Men's Suits

Fabrics

Thursday, August 26

Live Rent Free For a Year

Opportunity for university students to live RENT FREE free for a year in Virgin Mobile's On The House Competition.

The competition is open to full-time students, aged 18 and over, from 10 participating Australian universities, who will be a continuing full-time for the 2005 academic year.

One Queensland winner will be chosen to win up to $650/week towards rent AND a cleaner for an entire year. The winner chooses the house and can include three friends.

What's involved?

To enter log onto www.onthehouse.com.au

Fill out the form, answer a couple of questions and you're in.

A panel of judges will choose the 3 best entries from each university. Short-listed participants will be contacted by the judges who will then determine the overall QUT finalist. There will be 12 finalists in total (representing the participating universities). Finalists then go into "campaign" mode to secure votes. The finalist with the highest number of votes of all candidates in their State will be the winner!

Finalists will be encouraged to promote and market themselves on and off campus to obtain votes from fellow students and the general public. The objective is for finalists to conduct a unique, creative and high profile campaign for votes.

REGISTRATION CLOSES SUNDAY 5 SEPTEMBER.

Wednesday, August 25

Service changes

The idiots at National Bus company have alterations and don't even bother telling the people who actually catch the bus (ie through way of in-bus notice). Instead they rely on the translink website... For most commuters they have regular buses that they catch, as if they are going to be regularly checking the website for changes to regular routes.

It was only by accident that I came across the notice of these service alterations of 5-15 minutes, as I needed to find out the times of the train (not my regular commute)

Forensic Accounting

Forensic accounting is one of the growing areas in this country’s professional services sector. With the increase in commercial litigation and fraud in Australia, forensic accountants have burgeoned during the 1990s from being an offshoot of audit practices into their own services division in high demand.

Forensic accounting, broadly defined, is accounting services provided in connection with court cases (often the ‘court’ is a commercial mediation service). In practice, it falls into three distinct areas: litigation support, where the accountants are usually asked to make a written valuation on the economic loss suffered by a party and are prepared to be cross-examined in court; investigative accounting, where they seek to discover how funds were stolen or errors were made that lead to an economic loss – such an investigation usually informs the decision to pursue criminal or civil options; and dispute services, where they are attached to a party in a commercial dispute or become the impartial arbiter of a disagreement.

Mark Abernethy

The network conundrum

International affiliation sounds like a glamorous move for mid-tier accountancy firms but beware the pitfalls.

PROS

* The ability to exchange ideas with like-minded accounting firms on a global basis.

* Receiving a stream of referrals from fellow network members and refer their own clients that set up overseas to foreign firms.

* Staff exchanges between offices throughout the world.

CONS

* It can often take time to build relationships within the network and for lucrative referrals to flow through from overseas firms.

* Membership can cost thousands of dollars each year.

* The time taken to deal with administrative matters.

By John Stensholt
BRW. 26 August 2004

Tuesday, August 24

Corporate Social Responsibility Essay

Win $2000 for 2000 words on corporate social responsibility. It kinda sounds like an assinghment which I did last year...

Tired and sleepy

Tiredness seems to be a modern plague. Should we all be getting more sleep? Or are the causes more complex than that?

Vault

Information about jobs from forbes. You can buy guides which tell you about the experiances of those that have actually worked in the big firms and some mid teir (mostly american)

From searching the website got some useless information

1. Deloitte
2. PWC
3. Ernst & Young
4. KPMG

It's pretty close between PWC and E&Y, but most people seem to place them in that order.

Monday, August 23

What to Wear (and Not Wear) on an Airplane for Comfort and Safety

"If there's a crash and the plane catches fire, items made of flammable synthetics can kill you."

Solving Wi-Fi Interference : AO

License-exempt spectrum is a great thing. The opening up of the 2.4 GHz radio band made possible the growth of cheap wireless networking for consumers. But now this wireless neighborhood is getting crowded and overrun.

Users and consumers notice this because they get interference on their wireless LANs. They may not actually say, "I've got interference," but when a Wi-Fi (802.11b) setup in a house or office stops working as well as it used to—when a laptop at one end of a building that used to be able to connect can no longer do so, or when cordless phone users start hearing crackling or popping noises—generally, interference from a neighbor's wireless LAN is the culprit.

Solving this problem is important, as Wi-Fi crowding will only get worse. Not only are more computers and telephones moving on to the 2.4GHz spectrum, but cellular phones use it (via Bluetooth). Even microwave ovens radiate 2.4GHz interference.

Do we really need a company to make a radio interference solution? In the case of standard 11 megabit per second Wi-Fi (802.11b), there are eleven channels of communication available to devices, each one on a slightly different frequency near 2.4 Gigahertz. One way to get better performance from Wi-Fi is to make sure that your device is on a channel that's relatively uncrowded.

Propagate handles this, which is a good start, since most consumers don't. Propagate cofounder Paul Callahan told me that curently "pretty much everybody is on channel 6." Users can change the channel their Wi-Fi router uses, but most don't. Propagate's AutoCell software, running in a Wi-Fi router, assigns itself a channel based on which one is the least used in the vicinity. It simply scans the signals in its neighborhood to see which channels are open and which are crowded.

Sunday, August 22

Multistage Differential Amplifiers

Its an write up for oamps quite technical but at least you get an understanding of what's going on.

Saturday, August 21

Googlism

I'm sure I posted this before but its still fun.

Thursday, August 19

Mandarina Duck

hahah the bags that mini are giving away with their cars... I have found.

Buy a job

WC Surveys - Get paid for your opinion!

Yahoo! Search blog

Its interesting that yahoo search now has a blog, but whats more interesting is what app they are using to update the blog?

MoveableType...

Sunday, August 15

Burning British Bunny Burns Barn

LONDON (Reuters) - A rabbit set alight by a bonfire at a British cricket club got its revenge when it ran burning into a hut and set it ablaze destroying costly equipment, the club said on Friday.

Members of Devizes cricket club in Wiltshire, western England, were burning dead branches when a rabbit caught up in the waste sped burning from the flames spreading a fire which destroyed lawnmowers and tools worth $110,000.

"After it had been going 5 minutes, the rabbit shot out of the bonfire on fire and went into the hut which is our equipment store," club chairman John Bedbrook told Reuters.

Two fire engines were called to extinguish the blaze. The rabbit's skeleton was discovered in the charred hut.

"The firemen were certainly concerned about the rabbit. They felt sorry for it," said Bedbrook.

And heres a funny picture.

NASA Kites

When NASA do stuff its normaly very techincal and there is are a lot of resources used. This is no exception... Presenting NASA's kite page.

BBQ

So thats how you get a bbq going...

forcibly removed

krs-one-the-mystery-continues.gif (GIF Image, 444x492 pixels)

Saturday, August 7

Weebl and Bob - kungfu

The latest installment includes many references to kung fu movies of the past (Just like Tarantinto in Kill Bill). This is a must see for all fans of kung fu and kung fu impersonation movies.

Lego Art

Lego made into real things, like art, sculptures and other models, including the rabbit ambulance from achewood.

Hot chicks

"Don't let her surfer girl tan and her 37 - 22 - 36 "vessel" fool you. Corrine is all substance, and when the steamy action is over she'll discuss literature and politics with you at whatever length you're willing to pay for."

Hot hot chicks... (the music is also steaming hot)

Rainbow Kids Show

A program which was canceled for some reason. Can you figure out why?

The Internet

The story which started the whole internet myth...

'Super Freak' singer Rick James dead.

Singer Rick James, a musical icon of the 1980s who helped define the "punk funk" style of that decade, was found dead in his home Friday morning by his caretaker, a Los Angeles police Department spokesman said. He was 56.

James' personal physician signed his death certificate, and said his death was the result of "existing medical conditions," police spokesman Jason Lee said.

Despite his meteoric rise and recording success, James won only a single Grammy, for co-writing M.C. Hammer's monster hit "U Can't Touch This," a song sampled from James' "Super Freak."

Building a Balancing Scooter

I think I posted this in the old version of D-news (newsletter) but I came across it again and thought. Cool I can easily chase the cat with minimal effort.

Make-a-Flake

Its a snowflake maker.

The hidden costs of too much stuff

I know its from msn but its still nice to know some is doing the thinking for us.

"I blame it on the Pottery Barn catalog. Whenever I glimpse that evil source of home-decorating temptation, I succumb to the affliction of our age: SDA, the Senseless Desire to Acquire."

Button Making

This is a button maker. This is how to abuse it.

[Original app is here]

Friday, August 6

CLERP 999

Because its a good guide as to what it all means.

Cat Yoga

Its yoga with the cat. Just see what I mean as it is beyond explanation and needs to be seen to be believed...

'WE WILL DESTROY HOUSES! WE WILL DESTROY BRIDGES!'

Japanese company will demolish for money.

YOKOHAMA (Kyodo) One of the hottest companies in Japan today doesn't produce cars, electronics or, for that matter, anything else. Its business is pure destruction, and by singing its praises the tiny Yokohama demolition firm has become dynamite.

The tune has already been made into ring tones for mobile phones, and two major karaoke song distributors are set to add it to their song books in January.

But the humorous lyrics reflect the pure corporate anthem spirit of promoting the company -- "We will destroy houses! We will destroy bridges! We will destroy buildings! To the east, to the west -- Run, Run, Nihon Break Kogyo!"

"We decided to sell CD copies of our company song simply because we didn't want to handle so many phone calls and Internet inquiries any more," said Shogo Kurita, a Nihon Break Kogyo board member.

Having to answer some 100 phone calls from nonclients every day was too much of a burden for Nihon Break Kogyo, which has only 16 regular employees.

"The lyrics have an enormous impact. Maybe this song is more radical and aggressive than songs created by mediocre punk rock bands," said a review on Amazon.co.jp.

Its back...

Just when you got the image of goatse out your mind by only viewing lesbian porn. A new threat emerges... This time its not a cat, its actually the cover of a magazine. The Ecologist now has the honor of bringing back repressed memories. Watch out for it at your local news agent. [Note: since this is the internet the link does have a picture]

Dogone Thong

The Dogone - Dog Gas Neutralizing Thong is a comfortable and least intrusive means for deodorizing gassy discharges.

Uses our famous activated charcoal cloth! A starter hole is placed in the cloth in order to help you locate the suggested tail hole. Carefully measure tail and cut-out hole to proper size. Elastic straps are used for flexibility. Suspender clips are used to make the garment totally adjustable. They also provide quick release for allowing the dog out to do his business.

Someone needs to call the RSPCA.

Japanese Fag Guide

Have a puff.

The Upsidedown Map Page

Is Australia downunder? Whatever way you believe is true just remember its all relative. And its also a pain in the arse if there isn't any international standards...

Taste the Secret

Meat shakes are back. Now in ham, turkey or beef. But the main attraction of this site is its zany jingle.

Going to the zoo...

A one stop site for all the fantastic animal creations made by the people of b3ta.

Blind Porn

Its porn but for the blind... Just roll your mouse over the image and find out what you've been missing out on by having vision.

Man Pillows

SINGLE women in Japan have been offered the ultimate bedtime mate: he won't stay out late, he doesn't snore and he won't hog the doona.

Women of all ages have reportedly been rushing to buy their very own Boyfriend Arm Pillow - a snuggly alternative to the real thing.

...for the boys who feel left out - a limited edition Girlfriend Arm Pillow is also on the way. [But men already have blow up dolls.]

Woman Fired For Eating Meat...

Nothing like that...

She was fired for eating pork.... Her employer happens to be muslim. The rule is part of the company's own unwritten policy on the consumption of pork. You can kinda see where they are coming from... Like who hasn't read the quaran.... Well you know I would write something decent but its too cold right now, so if you don't mind please just imagine what I would of written. Also I don't want to get worked up/stressed of employment issues when I don't even have a job.

retroCRUSH: The barely legal pleasure palace

Hottest cartoon babes of all time.

mmm Jessica Rabbit...

dog dies of overdose

A BRITISH police sniffer dog has died from a suspected amphetamine overdose after taking part in a drugs search, police said.

The black and white Springer spaniel, named Todd, became unwell after hunting for illegal substances in a field and car in Preston, northwest England, late last month.

The dog's handler, Constable Roger Moore, noticed the seven-year-old animal was ill about an hour after finishing the search.

"Todd was taken to the vet, who confirmed that his symptoms were similar to those seen in previous cases where amphetamines have been ingested," said a spokeswoman for Lancashire Police.

The dog was taken to the animal unit at nearby Liverpool University, but died later.

Subservient Chicken

A chicken that does stuff.

The latest 'Bushism'

"Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we," Bush said. "They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we."

Thursday, August 5

A Jean-Claude Van Damme Cinematic Retrospective

If there’s one thing we can expect from the Academy Awards, it’s that the Best Picture will go to the movie you and everyone you know fell asleep during, and Best Actor will go to the person who pretended to be a retarded person. In addition to that, it’s a pretty safe bet that this will be the year the Academy finally honors Jean-Claude Van Damme (henceforth occasionally referred to as “JCVD”) with a Lifetime Achievement Award. In fact, we’re so confident that this is going to happen, we’ve put this together to act as a companion to your viewing of the Oscars – a high-flying Jean-Claude Van Damme filmography.

In the beginning…

Jean-Claude’s first film role was an uncredited part as a unitard-wearing breakdancing enthusiast in a crowd scene in Breakin’. His first credited role came in Monaco Forever, a film by the acclaimed director of Blackenstein and Wham Bam Thank You Spaceman. The name of the character he played – “Gay Karate Man.”

Le Movie

I read last week that Hollywood is planning a movie
about Lance Armstrong, starring Matt Damon. It's

bound to be the kind of memorable epic that only
Tinseltown can produce. Like Gigli or Flintstones 2:
Viva Rock Vegas.

The Lance biopic isn't due until 2006, but I've taken
the liberty of coming up with a screenplay and some
casting suggestions.

My pick for Lance's girlfriend Sheryl Crow is Halle
Berry. She'll attract the 18-49 males and look great in
a straw cowboy hat.

Portraying Lance's sidekick, George Hincapie:
Snoop Dogg. He'll deliver comic relief and the hip-hop
demographic.

Lance's archrival Jan Ullrich will be played by Arnold
Schwarzenegger, on sabbatical from his role as
governator of California.

Here, in a world exclusive, is a peek at my screenplay.

Setting: The Alps, Tour de France. Thousands of fans
line the roadside. Climbing toward the camera are
Armstrong and Ullrich, followed by Hincapie.

Ullrich: You'll win your sixth Tour over my dead body,
Armstrong.

Armstrong: Whatever it takes.

(Ullrich jams his pump into Armstrong's front wheel.
Armstrong crashes.)

Ullrich: Hasta la vista, Lancey!

Armstrong (clutching his bleeding head): Sheryl... yo,
Sheryllllll!

Hincapie: L-Dawg! What up? Not you, that's for sure.

Crow (appears from the crowd, sobbing): Oh, Lance, you
can't go on. Leave this madness behind and come back to
Austin with me. All I want to do is have some fun. I've
got a feeling I'm not the only one.

Armstrong: I can't quit now. Can't you see: It's not
about the bike. It's about inspiring anyone who's ever
been diagnosed with a fatal disease. Or wanted to buy a
Subaru.

(Armstrong remounts, storms past Ullrich and locks up
his historic 6th Tour win.)

Ullrich (hurling his bike to the ground): I'll be back!

Wednesday, August 4

FastBuzz?

I don't even remember signing up for this but anyway...

But the main to thing to check out is the wicked Latest News updater majig, which updates constantly/on-the-fly/live. Which is really cool

Tuesday, August 3

Rice for your bike

I could see this on cars a lot of "_" type cars... And for bikes well, its a bit debateable as it is a good idea since the orange reflectors on most bikes could only be seen (in the dark) on the side, these things would solve that problem.

Also another use for these would be on kites....

Sunday, August 1

Biro Picture

11 pages of A4...

Throwing paper into a bin

Now in a flash game

Tape Player for the PC

No its not a Spectrum ZX or Amstrad.... Its actually a Tape deck for your computer which sits in one your 5 1/4" drive bays. And the sad thing is that this is something I would actually buy, as I still use a tape walkman...

oh and dont forget to get cool analoge guages

PC oven

Yummm... ThinkGeek has a little oven which fits in a 5 1/4" drive bay. Its warms the food with a light bulb.... The software is open sauce and so are the recipies...

106.2 HUM FM

Free Cricket Audio. Mainly of Indian matches becuase its an Indian radio station, but why would you want to listen to anything else

http://www.humfm.com/

This is the bottom of the page